Wool Kilts and Rain

[pipesndrumsnun]

The kilted bands have marched in many a down-pour, and the kilts have always held up well.
Robert, you are a hoot!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

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.

[Ian.MacAllan]

Squeezing, twisting, and wringing all count as agitation. They are cruelty to wool.


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[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.

[Robert Lamb]

I wore my wool SWK McLamb kilt all day in the wind & rain today, it kept me nice and warn. The only damage is that it will need a total press from sitting on it wet.
Neither the kilt nor shrunk so wear the wool in the rain with no fear.
Hang it up wet and let it air dry.
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

[Kilt TN]

I remember an article I read in a book or on line, don't remember which, but do remember that it was written in the late 1800 or early 1900. That suggested wearing your kilt in the rain, a river, or the ocean to clean it, and to wear it until it was dry, by doing this it hold it's size and shape better. Also don't use any soap or soap like product it take the lanolin out of the fibers, which will make the fabric feel ruff and cause shrinkage, just cold water and/or a table spoon of baking soda to a gallon of water, the baking soda will help remove any odors but doesn't remove the lanolin.

[Nighthawk]

Admittedly, I didn't read every post here, but of the ones I did read, I didn't see anyone mention the insulating properties of wet wool. A lot of survivalists prefer wool because it can be totally saturated with water and still have nearly all of it's insulating properties. Wet wool keeps you nearly as warm as dry wool.

[Archangel]

Two quick comments: when it gets wet, soaked, it stinks, really stinks, wet sheep stink and two, wear it until it dries to keep the shape. Don't sit in it, walk it dry.

[Fedgunner]

From what I have read... Soaking the wool wind-proofs it.
I have no experience, other than reading the tale.

Admittedly, I didn't read every post here, but of the ones I did read, I didn't see anyone mention the insulating properties of wet wool. A lot of survivalists prefer wool because it can be totally saturated with water and still have nearly all of it's insulating properties. Wet wool keeps you nearly as warm as dry wool.