how the kilt hangs

[berserkbishop]

So, this is just a random inquiry, and I wasn't really sure where to put it. I only own two kilts, one being an e-bay special and the other a SWK Standard MacLeod Hunting. My question is this, the first day I wore my kilt, either one but especially the SWK, the kilt hung straight down, running nearly parallel to my legs, (the look I like) but now when I am wearing it it more bell shaped, not the best description, but it is now tapering out away from my legs more than I would like making it look more "skirt"-like in my opinion. Any reason for this?

[turpin]

You may be wearing it at a different height on your waist one time than another, which could affect where the fell ends and thus how the pleats hang. Just surmising, here.

[Pleater]

Did you hang the kilt between wearings?

Was it on something firm enough to hold it with the top edge straight?

If not that could have allowed it to sag into a more conical shape.

[berserkbishop]

the kilt hasnt really been hung correctly. It has been laid out as near flat as i could manage because I havnt had the hangers with clips I need. Is there somthing I can do to correct the shape?

[Mr. MacDougall]

You might try pressing it. There are instructions on how to do this in the tutorial forum.

[McClef]

If they are based on waist rather than made to measure the seat and pleating measurements will be based on an average and therefore more liable for this problem.

Yes pressing helps.

[McMurdo]

Try to see if you can press it to your liking, in the mean time, you should get yourself some kilt hangers, in my opinion the best ones you can find readily enough are these from Ikea
Here is my Isle of Skye with the kilt hanger I'm talking about, the good thing about these is that they are strong enough to hang a 16oz 8 yard kilt with no problem.

[Archangel]

Yep, hanging them up is best. Sometimes Riverkilt's weighted clips are needed.

I get away with using regular skirt hanger but the wider one would be nice. Somebody had the idea of two and folding the whole kilt in half so both hangers hang.

The problem is the pleats are separating near the top and blousing out. Some maintenance may be required. That's why you read about kiltmakers doing that little bit more, or some buyers sewing down the fell (I think that's the right name for the section that's sewn down the pleat from the top). Or steaming and ironing.

There's less work to a heavier kilt that's made right, they just fall into place every time.

[The Wizard of BC]

for a good idea on how to hang your kilt and how to get free hangers please see the tutorial "How to hang your kilt" in the tutorial section.

Another reason your kilt is starting to develop the strange shape, is the fabric. Your kilts are made from Acrylic. This fabric has a lot of stretch to it and over time just the weight alone will cause it to stretch out of shape. Especially when not hung properly.

A pressing every few weeks will help. And again there is a good tutorial available on pressing.

[James MacMillan]

I found a pretty good source of specialty hangers here

A quick google search finds all qualities and quantities and prices.

Of course the free ones will also work for a while...