Best way to store a kilt???

[denmcdough]

To anyone who can help: what is the best way to store a kilt? I've got 4 kilts, now, and have purchased the nifty kilt hangers and store them in an old pillow case, hanging in my closet. This seems to be the preferred method that most retailers suggest. However, I just read, on Robert MacDonald's site (he's in Vancouver, BC) that he prefers to roll up his kilts and put them in a drawer because hanging the kilt can make the pleats splay.

Any suggestions? Is Robert correct? Thanks!

[ggibby]

I cycle through my five UKs as daily wear, and they hang outside my closet so they air out.


(I tried the four-clip from Alpha Kilts, but found it cumbersome. Working in retail, I have access to pretty nice wooden two-clip hangers.)
The other 9 hang in the closet, folded inside out for the casuals, right-out for those with buckles.
Only the tank is covered, in a very simple nylon garment bag.
After I wear a kilt, I hang it outside the closet for at least a day to air out before it goes back with the rest.
Living in an old house with lots of humidity, I lean toward more air circulation, and it stretches the time between laundering/trips to the dry cleaner.

[muirkirkca]

I use two hangers with clips on each end, Clip for the two aprons, one for pleats. Use plastic clothes pin(s) in center for added support. Inexpensive.

[skauwt]

i also use two kilt hangers when storing the kilt as a 16 oz kilt can be rather heavy for just the one hanger

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The minute my kilt comes off I open it up and lay it inside out across the foot of a bed, or over the back of a well upholstered chair, with the pleats hanging down. I also turn my kilt jacket and waistcoat inside out (but don't pull the arms out) and let them hang out to air as well. Once the kilt has had a chance to air out-- at least 24 hours-- I place the aprons over the pleats and then fold the kilt in half, length ways. I then carefully lay the kilt in a tin uniform box that has a couple of sachets full of moth balls in it. -- Okay, not everyone has a tin uniform box so I would suggest that laying your kilt in a drawer (or better yet, a cedar chest) would be just as good, and in my opinion infinitely better than hanging the kilt in a closet.

Yes, cedar chests are costly, but if you scout out yard sales and auctions you can usually find them for something in the region of $25-$100-- far less than the $400+ charged in a store.

The advantage of "laying down" a kilt is that it places no stress on the stitching which, in my opinion, probably increases the life of the kilt. Also, it frees up closet space (something that is usually at a premium in most households). This is especially true if you know how to properly fold a jacket as it can also be laid down (on top of the kilt), along with hose, sporrans, etc.

[Chas]

I use the method that has been described here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ur-kilt-28264/

And these are pictures of the system in use:



In this one, note the hangers - 2 hangers equal 1 kilt.



Regards

Chas

[Riverkilt]

In addition to letting a kilt air out I like to steam it to get the wrinkles out and kill any critters that may have hopped aboard on the last outing.

I use the Order of the Gael hangers for my hand sewn kilts then put them in a Big Box store garment bag. http://www.orderofthegael.org/index.htm



There are six clips, two each for the apron, underapron, and backside. Each clip is strong. Here's a pic of the whole wool kilt hanging from just one clip.



And, they can also carry a necktie, jacket, etc.



My PV kilts hang on Big Box Store plastic clip hangers with extra clips added - four or five to a hanger.



Did build huge homemade hangers for my leather kilts. Used a 1x1 and cup hooks matched to the belt loops. Use weighted clips to "train" the pleats.



Now just leave them lay out, sort of decorative laying over the back of the couch.

Maybe I should look for an old tank being parted out and see if I can score the ammo holder. Might be a great way to store rolled up kilts - in them round ammo slots. Or maybe someone should build something like that to hold rolled up kilts - like a big wine rack...in modules...so you can add on modules to hold maybe six or nine kilts at a time...

Another niche' market looms....

[MacMillans son]

In addition to letting a kilt air out I like to steam it to get the wrinkles out and kill any critters that may have hopped aboard on the last outing.

I use the Order of the Gael hangers for my hand sewn kilts then put them in a Big Box store garment bag. http://www.orderofthegael.org/index.htm



There are six clips, two each for the apron, underapron, and backside. Each clip is strong. Here's a pic of the whole wool kilt hanging from just one clip.



And, they can also carry a necktie, jacket, etc.



My PV kilts hang on Big Box Store plastic clip hangers with extra clips added - four or five to a hanger.



Did build huge homemade hangers for my leather kilts. Used a 1x1 and cup hooks matched to the belt loops. Use weighted clips to "train" the pleats.



Now just leave them lay out, sort of decorative laying over the back of the couch.

Maybe I should look for an old tank being parted out and see if I can score the ammo holder. Might be a great way to store rolled up kilts - in them round ammo slots. Or maybe someone should build something like that to hold rolled up kilts - like a big wine rack...in modules...so you can add on modules to hold maybe six or nine kilts at a time...

Another niche' market looms....

Riverkilt,

Like large PVC pipe sold at an underground construction material store, cut to length and glued together in a stack? (Home store may not carry large enough diameter)

Hmmmmm, where did I put that phone number for the patent office????

[wildrover]

Airing it out is pretty important IMHO...the top of a cedar chest is a perfect place to lay it out for a day. As a bachelor to the core, the "airing out" procedure is second nature...I can get a few days' wear from jeans that way , and the #1 way to prevent festering dirty sock piles is air the suckers out before tossing them in the hamper. Doing the same with the kilt is just habit. Don't forget to separate your piles by "ripeness" .

As a matter of fact, my kilt is from Robert...I either fold it like MoR mentioned and toss it over a chair if I figure I'll have it on again soon enough, or roll it as Robert describes and lay it in the cedar chest. The latter is certainly less stress on the material, and takes up less space...I learned about "shoulder nipples" when I started doing my own laundry in college, and the last thing I want on my kilt is...uh..."waist nipples"?

-Sean

[Ryan Ross]

The minute my kilt comes off I open it up and lay it inside out across the foot of a bed, or over the back of a well upholstered chair, with the pleats hanging down. I also turn my kilt jacket and waistcoat inside out (but don't pull the arms out) and let them hang out to air as well. Once the kilt has had a chance to air out-- at least 24 hours-- I place the aprons over the pleats and then fold the kilt in half, length ways. I then carefully lay the kilt in a tin uniform box that has a couple of sachets full of moth balls in it. -- Okay, not everyone has a tin uniform box so I would suggest that laying your kilt in a drawer (or better yet, a cedar chest) would be just as good, and in my opinion infinitely better than hanging the kilt in a closet.

The advantage of "laying down" a kilt is that it places no stress on the stitching which, in my opinion, probably increases the life of the kilt. Also, it frees up closet space (something that is usually at a premium in most households). This is especially true if you know how to properly fold a jacket as it can also be laid down (on top of the kilt), along with hose, sporrans, etc.

I store mine in exactly the same way. Once folded, they go into a cedar chest.