Pressing without ironing?

[chrisupyonder]

Found this while browsing... Any one heard of pressing a kilt this way?

<Quote>
I would never iron kilt pleats. Wet the kilt down (Use a spray bottle if you don't want to soak it) lay it flat and VERY CAREFULLY arrange each of the pleats so that they lay flat and the pattern is EXACT. When you're sure lay a wet towel over it until the towels and the kilt dry (will take several days) Leave it on the floor on a towel (keep your cat away!) This is the way the pleats are originally put into the kilt and the best way to have the pleats look good. Ironing can change the colours of the wool (if you're not extremely careful).
This wetting it down and laying it out method takes longer and is more persnickity but definitely gives a better finished looking kilt.
<end quote>

http://www.dance.net/topic/9530415/1...tml&replies=19

I have not heard of this being the way the pleats are originally put into the kilt.

Chris.

[Riverkilt]

I much prefer steaming with a portable steamer. Works excellently.

[Bugbear]

Found this while browsing... Any one heard of pressing a kilt this way?

<Quote>
I would never iron kilt pleats. Wet the kilt down (Use a spray bottle if you don't want to soak it) lay it flat and VERY CAREFULLY arrange each of the pleats so that they lay flat and the pattern is EXACT. When you're sure lay a wet towel over it until the towels and the kilt dry (will take several days) Leave it on the floor on a towel (keep your cat away!) This is the way the pleats are originally put into the kilt and the best way to have the pleats look good. Ironing can change the colours of the wool (if you're not extremely careful).
This wetting it down and laying it out method takes longer and is more persnickity but definitely gives a better finished looking kilt.
<end quote>

http://www.dance.net/topic/9530415/1...tml&replies=19

I have not heard of this being the way the pleats are originally put into the kilt.

Chris.

No, that is not how pleats are put into the kilt. Barb has discussed this many times on the forum, and The Wizard has, as well. They are basted, then pressed in with the full weight of the person pressing, and a bunch of steam etc.

I am very skeptical of this person's suggestion because you have to put a towel or something under the fell area of the kilt to lay the pleats out flat.
* It's a small point, but you don't iron a kilt, you press the kilt and usually use a damp pressing cloth. I'm not a kilt maker, just a XMTS member.

[The Wizard of BC]

The previous kilt maker in my town pressed the pleats of new kilts with a board, 50 lbs of weights and leaving them under pressure over the weekend.
I could spot one of her kilts from 50 feet away. The pleats were round.

Laying a wool kilt on the floor, wetting it, and then closing the wool off from air with a wet towel, and then leaving it for a few days ----- my mildew alarm just went into overdrive.

People have known the properties of Wool for many hundreds of years. They had irons back in the 1700's. Museums are full of examples.

Is it possible that this person is right.....well, yes, it's possible. But we have electricity now. We can control the heat of our irons. We know the temperature of steam.
And using these many hundreds of thousands of times by very knowledgable kilt makers has worked pretty well.



And I can wear my kilt 60 min after threading my basting needle.

[xman]

Thank heaven for Shackmom and Macrae or that thread would need an intervention.
Whatever dancermommy is smoking should be declared a dangerous substance.

[chrisupyonder]

Yes it looked like a load of rubbish to me. I don't like face sporrans but that cat in the link!!!! Might have been tempted.

Chris.

[Pleater]

You can't lay a kilt with a shaped fell out flat - not unless you distort the pleats so they fan out rather than lie parallel.

Anne the Pleater