How to steam pleats in an older worn kilt

[kelkubi]

http://kreationsbykelly.blogspot.com...wool-kilt.html

[guardsman]

very handy

[KiltedKnome]

Actually, I am going to disagree with some of what this blog says. The kilt has been pressed, but the pleats are not correct. If you look closely at the final product, you will see that there is an accordion or fan effect as the hem is approached. If the pleats had been basted first so as to lock the pleats into the correct location, and then pressed, the final result would have been better.

[Paul Henry]

Actually, I am going to disagree with some of what this blog says. The kilt has been pressed, but the pleats are not correct. If you look closely at the final product, you will see that there is an accordion or fan effect as the hem is approached. If the pleats had been basted first so as to lock the pleats into the correct location, and then pressed, the final result would have been better.

Agreed, there are several things I would query in addition, the use of distilled water in the iron as well, most modern irons actually say NOT to use distilled water, so it is very important to do whatever your instructions on the iron says.
If a kilt was as badly creased as the example, the only way to make it perfect will be to measure and baste, so I would suggest caution in following this, as a side note I thought tutorials had to be added by a Mod rather than a "normal" member , so that they could be checked?

[CDNSushi]

Thread moved to an appropriate area for discussion rather than the tutorial area.

[Pleater]

with a very wrinkled kilt it can be faster to iron the creases out - iron the inside of the kilt, and use a light touch with the temperature just high enough to smooth out the unwanted folds. Don't try to iron right up to the fell, just do the parts you can iron easily.

When ironed, lift up the kilt and swish the pleats from side to side and they will begin to fall back into shape.

Use the shaped end of the ironing board to press the fell working on a small area at a time and allowing the pleats to hang over the edge, as the shaping makes that part of the kilt three dimensional so you can't just hammer it flat.

I tend to press single folds rather than try to get all the pleats aligned. Pressing the outer fold of each pleat is easier and gives a more accurate result, as the inner fold will settle correctly when the kilt is worn rather than it possibly being pressed in the wrong place so you get a flared kilt or a twisted pleat.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[kelkubi]

Just a follow-up to my original post.....
I apologize if some of my information is incorrect. By no means am I an expert, I was just sharing what I tried and what I believed to be true. When it comes to the distilled water, by all means, check your owners manual. I do know that the two irons I have, one which is a brand new Oreck, states that you should use distilled water as the hard water in many parts of the country will cause build up and clog your iron.
On a side note, the tutorial I added was approved and posted by a moderator.
Next time I will baste the pleats as you suggested and will try to improve my skills. This is my first attempt so I'm sure I have plenty to learn.

[kelkubi]

Thank you for this information Anne, I sure do have a lot to learn!

[Pleater]

Just trying to pass on the accumulated experience - if there is an easy way there's no sense in keeping it a secret.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: