can you tell real wool from fake wool

[swampfox]

hello all... well i havent been wearing any kilts till i lose some weight but my mom sent me a kilt she found in scotland... obviously its not fitted for me but its still cool... from the looks of it its hand sewn and great quality but im wondering if anyone knows how to tell if its real wool or something else like PV or acrylic wool
can i take an iron to a hidden spot and see if it melts or can ya tell by the feel.
i really like this kilt as its in our family colors (gunn) and has two straps.
thanks yall

[Chas]

Hi swampfox,

This might help:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...fabrics-58373/

Regards

Chas

[Lallans]

This takes me back to a great Christmas when I got a Gilbert microscope and, not having any bio samples handy, went around identifying fibres all over the house (CSI style). I assume though that you don't have a microscope handy.

Lacking a Gilbert Crimebuster set, I suspect it takes a while to develop a 'feel' for wool vs synthetics but if you can find one garment made of each and do a side-by-side (-by-side) comparison with your new kilt, that might help. If you have a woman handy they can probably tell you right away. Or, if you want to do a guy thing, I think you had the germ of an idea in your OP: If you can find a seam on the back of the kilt and isolate or extract a few threads, try exposing them to a small flame. If they burn and char, it's wool (or at least some natural material). If they melt, it's not wool. If the kilt goes up in flames, hey Dude, it was your idea in the first place! -but it wouldn't have been a safe garment to wear anyway.

[swampfox]

lol thats funny lol... it has almost a smooth starched feel to it... i read on a sewing blog about taking a few threads and lighting them on fire to see if they melt or burn so im gonna try to extract a few threads.
its a really nice kilt so it gives me motivation to lose weight, the makers tag says a' the best Fae Scotland, 3 canongate Edinburgh EH8 8BX.
if that means anything

[swampfox]

i did manage to find their website and from the looks of it its a medium weight worsted wool cause from what i can see they dont use any other material.

[Chas]

Interesting.

This is from Companies House in the UK, where all UK businesses are registered.

GIFTS SCOTLAND LIMITED

3 CANONGATE

EDINBURGH

EH8 8BX


( Dissolved )

People connected with the Company

GURBHAJAN SINGHAppointed as secretary on 02 Jun 2008
DAVID SINGHAppointed as director on 30 May 2008

Information last updated: 26 Nov 2010

Regards

Chas

[Tartan Hiker]

Drop a few threads in chlorine bleach. Poly will not be changed, wool will dissolve.

[swampfox]

i snipped a thread from the fringe and it burned and smelled like burnt hair so it is wool but i dont know what weight... when i googled the company name it may have been an old website but it was there lol.

[Lallans]

Congratulations! Nobody ever gave ME a free wool kilt!

[Jay]

Here is an idea.

Leave it crumpled up in a ball for a few days. Then hang it on a hanger.


Wool does not wrinkle as easy, plus the wrinkles fall out easier by hanging.

A Poly garment will probaby keep its wrinkles longer. Also, you dont risk burning your garment or yourself.