machine washing a semi-trad.

[sailortats]

Very shortly I expect to be purchasing a semi-trad kilt from Rocky. I am not so much concerned about the machine washing of the kilt (when needed) as I am of the ironing needed after the washing.
Is this a job for an expert in the ironing department or can just anyone at least familiar with an iron do it? I certainly don't want to screw it up the first time I have to wash it.

[Mikewood]

PV is very forgiving and when you machine washed it and hang it dry or lay it out flat and let it air dry tHe pleats can be hand adjusted and will stay that way. They don't loose their crease (set)or need to be pressed. "think dockers trousers".
They need minimum care.

[sailortats]

that is the best news I have heard in along time, thanks. Semi-trad. here I come

[Zardoz]

I wash my USAK's on Cool water, Gentle cycle. After the wash, rinse and spin, I run it through an extra spin dry.
I then put a sheet over our spare bed, and carefully spread the kilt out flat. Take some time to lay it out so it is as flat as possible and straighten and smooth out the pleats and aprons by hand. Spend 10 minutes doing that, and once it dries (generally overnight) you should only need minimal ironing. Set your iron to the lowest steam setting, and press out any persistant wrinkles.

If you don't have a spare bed, a big table or even the floor will do. I do my pressing over a blanket on our seldom used dining table.

[Joshua]

I just use a cheapo laundry steamer. It gets all the wrinkles out without fussing with ironing.works in a jiff for dress shirts too...

[Chas]

I certainly don't want to screw it up the first time I have to wash it.

You have raised a good point and one that is not mentioned enough.

When it comes to the after washing care a person has a choice - iron or press.

Ironing involves heat & steam & an ironing board or table or floor & maybe an ironing cloth & moving the iron around.

Pressing is very similar except there is no waving the iron about. Heat & steam & pressure do the job.

Shirts should be ironed

Kilts should be pressed.

Regards

Chas

[Tobus]

When ironing, should a moist towel or rag be used between the iron and the material to avoid creating a sheen on the surface?

[Paul Henry]

When ironing, should a moist towel or rag be used between the iron and the material to avoid creating a sheen on the surface?

Yes, it provides a buffer of steam ,and after pressing it is a good idea not the move the pleats for a moment or two, in order to cool down, this helps to set the pleats sharp as well. Some also use a pressing block as well, I often use a large heavty wooden board on top for 10 minutes or so as well, so that the kilt can cool down under a little bit of weight

[Chas]

When ironing, should a moist towel or rag be used between the iron and the material to avoid creating a sheen on the surface?

When I was in the RAF (1970-1982), steam irons were very expensive and normal flat irons were the norm. We used to use a damp linen pressing cloth to generate the steam.

Wind forward 30 years. Steam irons have tumbled in price are now commonplace. One step further are the steam generators - now at an affordable price. We would not go back to a steam iron after using a stem generator.

But with all these advances, I still use a pressing cloth. Still linen, but no longer damp as the generator produces 100x more steam than the cloth ever could.

Regards

Chas

[Alan H]

Just be drop-dead sure not to "splay" the pleats. Ironing a kilt the first time is a little bit tricky, because the pleats want to "fan out" a bit on the ironing board, due to the tapering in the fell. Resist this temptation, and line up the pleats nice and straight.