Wool Kilts and Rain

[Andrew Breecher]

Water does not shrink wool. That's a common misconception. It is a combination of heat and agitation that shrinks wool. That's why woolen garments tend to get shrunk in the wash, because they've been run through the washer in hot water and/or tossed around in the dryer. But just water won't hurt it at all.

Hot water and agitation (i.e. a hot wash cycle in the machine) shrinks and felts wool. Sometimes this is desired, but certainly not with a kilt! A hot dryer merely shrinks the wool. Just use cold water to wash (or rain water to walk in), and air dry as everyone has recommended, and you'll be fine.

[Pleater]

I wrap wool yarn, hose, even kilts in something cotton and non stretching and spin dry them. The spinner is a separate item, not a washing machine on spin and is useful when dyeing yarn.

Our washing machines in the UK are just about all front loaders, with horisontal drums, but the spinner has a vertical drum.

It will take out lots of water from a kilt, but I do not overdo the spinning. As soon as the flow of water starts to breaks into drops I stop it.

I keep old pillow cases and bits of sheet for wrapping things for spinning. It minimises the effect on folds and edges. Drying times are reduced considerably.