Keeping pleats pleated

**Fearnest** · 8th February 07, 10:44 AM

For the casual kilts I hang it by the waistband (from three or four pants hangers) as it comes out of the washer. I straighten the pleats by hand (smoothing down both sides at once) and let it hang dry. Between that and the sewn-in feature, it hasn't been a problem at all.

**Livingston** · 8th February 07, 11:26 AM

Best way is to gently lay your kilt flat, make sure the pleats are where they belong, lay a pressing cloth over and PRESS, not iron. Drawing the iron over them can stretch the material out of shape.

Thanks Hamish for your great words of wisdom on this.

**Riverkilt** · 8th February 07, 10:52 PM

I love the Black and Decker "Gizmo" portable steamer for my PV kilts. It has a clamp dealie on it for creasing or reshaping curled pleats.

I also use my home made weighted clips when hang drying my Utilikilts and PV kilts. Works great since the weight of the clip holds the pleats straight while they hang dry. No need to iron.

I buy the plastic clips from WalMart's hanger department, they come in bags of 12. They're intended to clip on their plastic hangers.

Then I go to sporting goods and get half ounce fishing weights, two per clip. Then I duct tape a weight to each side of the clip. The weight of the clip and the extra ounce of weight are enough to hold the pleats straight without pulling the fabric.

A while back someone questioned the hassle. Made them up during a football game. Timed how long it took to put them on a kilt and it came out something like two minutes...less time than for the iron to heat up.

May seem crazy, but it works like a charm.

Ron

**Hamish** · 11th February 07, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Livingston

Best way is to gently lay your kilt flat, make sure the pleats are where they belong, lay a pressing cloth over and PRESS, not iron. Drawing the iron over them can stretch the material out of shape.

Thanks Hamish for your great words of wisdom on this.

You are more than welcome, Livingston!

You have just beaten me to it. As soon as I read Dirka's question, I knew what I had to tell her, but thought it best to read everyone else's responses first. Glad I did!

All I can do, Dirka is to endorse what Livingston (!) so wisely describes.

**Blu (Ontario)** · 11th February 07, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

.... All I can do, Dirka is to endorse what Livingston (!) so wisely describes.

Indeed... most important to maintain the original crease lines of the pleats as the kiltmaker ironed them.in. The back of the kilt will likely hang in waves otherwise.

**Dirk Skene** · 9th February 07, 07:25 AM

Your skirt & CM's kilt both have sewen down pleats. I made sure. Too keep them crisp just use Panache's advise.

Love ya, Baby

**cacunn** · 9th February 07, 11:16 AM

I've seen pants presses that are clam shell type devices. You put your pants in them and they close and press the complete pants legs at one time. With the ever growing number of kilts out there how long until they have one for a kilt?