How do I...

[LANCER1562]

Mend a PV kilt? I've just discovered two small burn holes in my PV SWK Balck Stewart kilt wich are not only vey small (thank goodnes) but are also hidden by a couple of pleats. Is there a way to patch the holes or am I going to have to replace my kilt?

[ccga3359]

It's an SWK, it would be cheaper to buy a new kilt. You could take out a panel of a couple of pleats and replace it with a new panel, dont forget when you have 4 yards of double wide fabric thay will be joined somewhere within the pleats. But you have to disassemble the kilt to do it. Another problem is getting matching fabric. SWK are woven and made in Pakistan. Also SWK is not Poly-Viscous (Poly-Rayon in NA) it is, I believe either acrylic or polyester. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but SWK are cheap and make a good hackaround kilt. perhaps upgrade to their wool kilt that is more resistant to small burns.

[Bugbear]

Ya, they're acrylic. You're probably lucky it did not burst into flames...

Ask Pleater or The Wizard about the patching part; someone will know.

If you need a thread or two of the same as the kilt to do what ever you need to do, the threads running up and down the fringed edge of Stillwaters tend to be easy to extract.

Hope that helps a little.

[LANCER1562]

As long as I am UNgainfully UNemployed, upgrading to anything at this time is out of the question. The holes are about .22 inches (6mm) in diameter and are hidden under the front apron and within two pleats on the left front. I have plenty of black thread, which is the color of the thread where the holes are.

[Pleater]

If the holes are visible, or just really annoy you by their very existence, use a piece of fabric if you have anything suitable, or buy tape, ribbon or the like, in a colour suitable to patch the hole. Use a small amount of white PVA woodworking glue just around the hole and when it dries carefully trim away any excess mending fabric. You can either use the waterproof version of the glue or restick the patches after washing if you use the ordinary sort.

If the holes are unobtrusive then you probably don't need to do anything as they won't be noticed. Trying to sew up the hole or attach a patch can sometimes make the blemish more noticable than leaving it alone.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[LANCER1562]

Thank you Anne. Since the holes are so small and are hidden within pleats and under the apron they are not really visible. Since they are burned arong the edges, I see any possibility of the material unraveling. I was thinking of patching the holes from the underside with some black hemming tape since it doesn't require a lot of heat to get it to stick. Would that work?

[mbhandy]

I think what Anne said would do the trick. Or a small piece of light weight black material would do if you whip stich the side.


MrBill

[Pleater]

I would recommend cold gluing - the temperature at which the kilt would show some alteration in its texture and the temperature at which the glue melts could be too close for comfort, plus there would be some pressure from the iron - I would not risk it.

You might like to glue on small patches simply to keep the melted edges of the hole off your skin, if they are likely to impact.

Personally I have avoided 100 percent acrylic fabrics, choosing to use sturdier fabrics in non tartan patterns, or plain black, as all acrylic fabrics I have used tend to look OK for a while but then start to age rapidly.

I might be somewhat prejudiced as I make a lot of my clothes and having put in the effort I want them to last a good while.

I do have a couple of things which are over 40 years old, and many which are in their third decade, so you should understand that I seek a far greater amount of permanence than many people.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[morrison]

There is a product called "Stitch witchery." Find it, then figure out a way to apply a matched backing material to the affected spots. On a separate piece of fabric, experiment with the use of the repair elements. After a try or two you'll probably know exactly what to do with the kilt repair. Soon you'll be in good repair with serviceability restored!
YIPPEEE!