The only thing I'd add is that, if you have a dark-colored tartan, putting the iron directly on the wool can leave a spot that is slightly shiny. That's the main reason for putting a cloth between the iron and the wool. It's not much of a problem with dress tartans, although there you can get into trouble if you have the least bit of residue on the bottom of the iron that can get transferred to the white part of the tartan.

If you're going to use a towel, I wouldn't use a terry towel. Too thick to give a good press. The best thing I've found is an old pillow case split up the side. You want the heat and steam from the iron, but you don't want to risk a shiny spot. A nice thin press cloth is the ticket. And think _press_, not iron. Ironing is a sliding motion, and what you want is a heavy up and down motion. I set the ironing board low so that I can really get my back into it.

The wood part is just to force the steam into the wool and to cool it quickly. So, you just steam and then press a chunk of wood on the pleat (a 10" length of 2x4 is fine and about the right size). You only leave it on for a few seconds and then go on to the next part. I can't see any advantage in leaving the kilt with a huge weight of wood on it. Once the steam has dissipated and the pleat isn't too hot to touch, more pressure doesn't do much. It wouldn't dry in any case, if you left stuff on it!

Cheers,

Barb