Wrinkled pleats

**ThinBlueLine** · 13th July 10, 06:46 AM

Hey all,

I just received a Sport Kilt and, although it looks and feels rather nice, the pleats were not held with basting stitches and they arrived quite wrinkled. Does anyone have any advice as to how to fix this or will the wrinkles just "fall out" if I hang it up?

**artificer** · 13th July 10, 07:07 AM

If you have a garment steamer, start there.

If not, hang it up for a few showers. In most cases a good steam will help flatten things out.

**ThinBlueLine** · 13th July 10, 07:10 AM

artificer,

Will that cause much damage to the pleats or are they usually sturdy enough to withstand steam?

**artificer** · 13th July 10, 07:15 AM

Pleats are PRESSED in with quite a lot of heat, a bit of steam just helps loosen up the wrinkles.

If you're concerned, start with a steamy shower. My first kilt was pretty wrinkled from it's overseas voyage when I first received it, and after two steams it was crisp and sharp.

**pdcorlis** · 13th July 10, 07:20 AM

Lots of wrinkles will simply fall out of a kilt, if not, steam is the right answer. I picked up a fabric steamer from Home Depot a few years back and have used it on everything from acrylic to wool. Our theatre department uses a steamer to keep it's massive collection of vintage costumes fresh as a daisy.

Steam is good.

**ThinBlueLine** · 13th July 10, 07:20 AM

artificer & pdcorlis,

Thank you very much.

**Riverkilt** · 13th July 10, 07:23 AM

Steam good. Friend of pleats.

**seanachie** · 13th July 10, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by ThinBlueLine

Hey all,

I just received a Sport Kilt and, although it looks and feels rather nice, the pleats were not held with basting stitches and they arrived quite wrinkled. Does anyone have any advice as to how to fix this or will the wrinkles just "fall out" if I hang it up?

I have a couple of SKs. Did you order with the pleats sewn down? That is pretty important. Also when I wash my SKs they generally have been "used and abused", promptly shaking them and hanging them wet with clothes pins attached to the pleats for weight works rather well. Following that procedure results in minimal if any touch ups. SKs do not come with basting stitches.

**MacMillan's son** · 13th July 10, 08:12 AM

On Riverkilts endorsement, I recently bought a "Jiffy steamer Esteam 601" for $48 on Amazon. Wrinkles from a two hour drive to and from San Francisco and all day at work came out in two easy passes (about 5 minutes) I can't speak to other fabrics but it works like a charm on 16oz Lochcarron wool!

**ThinBlueLine** · 13th July 10, 08:16 AM

seanachie,

I ordered The Works so the pleats came sewn down at the top. Do you usually attach the pins at the apex of the pleat or more toward the middle?