Q. re. creases!

[Micric]

Greetings all,
Yesterday I wore my own kilt for the very first time, to Calgary Highland games!
Great day, but weather turned a bit sour and we got a bit wet.
By the time we got home, (2 hrs in car) I'd set some creases fairly firmly in place in my kilt and argylle. (Should have been smart enough to remove the jacket for the drive home!...lesson leared!)

What is the best way to deal with the creases?
The kilt is new to me but was hand-made in the Lochindhorb are in the 60's and is worsted wool. It looks like new, apart from creasing!
I should become more adept at sweeping the pleats, and this would help prevent similar problems occuring.

Thank you for any help.
We are off today to Canmore highland games, so prompt advice would be most appreciated!!

Must say, this is a wonderful sight, with so many willing to help out!

Thank You!!

Richard.

[denmcdough]

Usually, with my wool kilts, I just hang them up and the weight of the fabric tends to work the crease out. If it's a stubborn crease, try using some steam. If you have to iron it, DO NOT put the iron directly on the material; place a damp cloth between the iron and the kilt. Hope this helps!

[Jock Scot]

No worries! Just hang the kilt and jacket on separate hangers and leave them in the shower closet AFTER a hot shower. Leave for 24 hrs-----repeat again if you have to. No shower? Simple boil a kettle(for as long as you dare before going dry) under the kilt & jacket in a small room ----get plenty of steam-----leave for 24 hours and repeat if you have to. The creases should fall out and then carefully place the whole lot out to dry.

Just noticed, you are THAT short of time! Hang them up and hope for the best!

[Pleater]

Ah - swift cure required.

Place the creased fabric on a firm surface, take a sponge and a piece of fabric which will not leave lint on the garment, or is the same colour as the garment if it is a real emergency, take a bowl of hot water, put on washing up gloves.

Put the sponge inside the fabric and twist the edges together to make a handle, dip it into the hot water and wring it out so it is just slightly damp then press it down onto the crease. Do not rub or twist. Lift and press along the crease, using the other hand to hold the crease flat once it is damp.

Repeat the dipping and pouncing until the crease gives in.

If you have opened out a pleat to treat the crease finish off by folding it back and go along the fold with the hot pressing to restore it.

If you can leave the garment to dry under slight tension - some pins in an ironing board for instance, the result should be pretty good, or in a really hurry, use a hair dryer, but from a safe distance and pull the garment flat as you fan the warm air over it or into the pleat.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Micric]

Thank you for the Very prompt replies!!
I have about an hour before we have to go!

Will get cracking on it.

Thanks again!!

R.

[Micric]

Update;

The above advice worked like a charm!

I'd already hung both garents up when I got home wet, and by morning the creases were much less. It seems they were worse in the argylle, (an old Hugh McPherson)

Taking the above advice, I damped the worst creases a little more, but wound up ironing the few tough nuts, with the material covered with damp cloth.
result;
No creases where they shouldn't be!

The games in Canmore were very enjoyable....Fresh snow on the mountains!
Would like to have had a bash at sheaf tossing!...did plenty of that with bales, so in theory a sheaf should be a doddle!
Chucking a four-stone weight straight up above your head sounds and looks a bit neolithic still though. how they don't brain themselves always has me wondering...

Thanks again for ther combined advice, you saved mi bacon!

R.

[freddie]

Oh, I had the same problem just a while back. I got an old 'ex hire' kilt in my clan tartan off ebay and it needed a good pressing. I took it to the dry cleaners and they did a brilliant job on it, it looked like new. I then wore it to a retirement do and when I left the venue it was pouring down with rain. I walked to the car, got in and commenced the long drive home. When I got home I noticed to my horror that the rear of the kilt was a crumpled mess. I took it back to the dry cleaners who repeated their process, but despite their best efforts, and the pleats being nice and flat, some of the creases are still visable (although pressed in). Next time I'm going to do what I saw a gentleman do at the Gatlinburg Highland Games during one of my visits to the USA. When he got to his vehicle he pulled on a pair of jeans under his kilt, then took his kilt off and hung it up. Just wish I'd done that myself!