Polyviscose Pleating...how to keep 'em?

[Pleater]

I have several all cotton kilts, but they all react differently so there is obviously an exta something to take into consideration - the spinning and weaving of the fibre I suspect.

Having tried to edge sew one kilt, it was not a sucess so I cannot recommend it.

I use starch when ironing cotton - I start off by ironing the lower edge and as far up the kilt as I can, on the reverse, first to remove the creases, then to dry off the starch spray - it is in an aerosol can.

When everything is ironed, I turn the kilt over and start to press the pleats. I use a piece of thick card, it was inside a bolt of fabric, to lay the pleat on, cover with a dry cloth and then press the edge. If necessary I then pin the pleats at the proper separation and press the lower part, hem to hip, then use the shaping at the narrow end of the ironing board to press the hip to waistband area.

As I normally wear a long tunic or liner I can sit on the various stools around the house and flip the kilt over the back to hang straight. I think that is a great help in keeping the pleats neat.

Anne the Pleater

[ruxpin76]

Thanks for all the advice... I will probably hand sew the pleat edges if I do them. I will wear it around a while and see how it responds before I do anything. Regards,

~Ted

[The Wizard of BC]

STOP!!!!!!

Do not edge stitch the pleats by hand. It is a sure way to create puckers and ripples in the pleats.

Unless you are incredibly patient and are planning on using a two thread locking stitch.

[Mr. Woolery]

I have one self-made knockabout kilt that is poly/cotton. I did machine-stitch the edges of every pleat and I never have to iron it (except for the one time while making the pleats so I could just follow the edge).

I would not really want to do this with an all-cotton material, though. Even denim gets all bunched up in the dryer.

Somehow, there are cotton trousers that claim to be all cotton, that don't lose the trouser crease in front, and don't get all wrinkly if you pull them out of the dryer and fold them right away. I don't know how they do it, but my wife has several pairs. If that sort of crease technology could be harnessed by the right-thinking element and applied to kilts, perhaps a cotton kilt would finally become a viable option for more folks.

-Patrick

[Carolina Kiltman]

I've thought about doing a full 'backing' of denim or canvas, then making the kilt. My logic being that the heavier material will hold the pleat with the lighter cotton almost serving as a decorative cover. I was thinking of using my 5 yds. left over for a box-pleated variant. Any thoughts? I will iron and starch the one I just made and report back the results. For what it's worth, I doubled the material in the overlaps, and they are substantially heavy enough to provide "frontal coverage".

Don't do that either! The backing will shrink at a different rate than the tartan, so you will just compound the problem.

Cotton is a wonderful fibre, but it has its own unique features too, not the least is the ability to shrink every time it is washed. There is a treatment, used to be called Sanforized (sp?) that stabilised the cotton.

I got some unbleached cotton that has shrunk every time it was washed, which rendered it totally useless.

[ruxpin76]

Hmmm. Quite the variety of replies. As stated, I'll wear it a bit, and then see what to do. If I have any luck, I'll report back here on the results.

[finlay marquisl]

Ruxpin,
What's the update on your kilt? I've bought the same material (after I read this). I would have bought the 100% Worsted Wool but they did not have the Bluebonnet Tartan.
Let us know.