Materials comparison chart

**Tartan Hiker** · 18th February 08, 09:38 AM

I've looked at this chart many times, and only now noticed that the pleat-holding ability of poly/cotton blend is listed as "poor".

100% cotton really is poor, but I've got lots of polycotton blends that will hold a pleat very well. My desert digital camo was recently washed, and I really didn't need to iron it afterwards (I did anyway, but it looked fine without ironing). It resists wrinkling and the pleats stay sharp as well as the full acrylic kilts with which I've had experience. My guess is that the polyester content is the critical variable...the more poly the better it "remembers" the pleat.

I think that "fair" would be a better assessment. I'm afraid that some newbie DIY'ers might give polycotton a miss when it can be a very appropriate material for kilting.

Any opinions?

**Moosedog** · 18th February 08, 10:17 AM

Yes, the poly seems to help. Also stitching with poly thread helps. I have a hard time comparing, though, as all the poly-cotton kilts I have made or bought have the pleats edge-stitched. If they haven't, I have added that immediately to help hold in the pleats.

Moosedog

**The Wizard of BC** · 18th February 08, 10:32 AM

While it is true that the Polyester content of the Poly/Cottons blends will effect its ability to hold a pleat please remember the chart talks about pleat holding not wrinkle resistance. Think of Dockers trousers. The fabric will remain fairly wrinkle free but the crease in the leg will fall out over time. This is what the chart refers to.
If your temp. is exactly right when you press or iron you can set a crease but you are dangerously close to the melting point of the fabric. This is why most of us who use Poly/Cottons for kilts edge stitch the pleat creases. This way you can enjoy the wrinkle resistance and not have to re-baste and press the pleat creases over and over.

I also agree that the chart should list Poly/Cottons a fair not poor at holding a crease but with such great variability in fabrics many are defiantly in the poor range.

**ozone** · 18th February 08, 11:35 AM

What chart?!?! Please provide a link or the thread in which it lies (no pun intended)

**Panache** · 18th February 08, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by ozone

What chart?!?! Please provide a link or the thread in which it lies (no pun intended)

Here is the announcment

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/k...702/index.html

Cheers

Jamie

**Canuck** · 18th February 08, 02:24 PM

Too bad hemp isn't mentioned in the chart. Probably because I'm the only one that uses it.
I know "readily available"...end of story.
I'll just keep it my own little secret...
Cheers

**ozone** · 18th February 08, 03:17 PM

Silly wabbit, i don't read the sidebars.....

. Of course if I read the whole darn website, I would have seen that most useful and helpful chart. Thanks Jamie!

PS: where's 100% wool in there? That's the one missing part on the chart. I would expect it would rate well compared to other fabrics, but it would be interesting nonetheless to have it present for comparison as well.