Belated Intro

**Lokishadow** · 29th January 10, 07:32 AM

Hello, fellow Kilted! My name is Lokishadow. Well, not really, it's just been my online handle for 16 years.

I'm a bit late with the introduction, I already posted asking about my tartan.

I first got interested in kilts when a really good friend of mine (who is also a recent join) whipped out his Utilikilt one day. I was fascinated, and then he and his lady went into great detail about the comfort and alleged health benefits of kilts. That was around a year or two ago.

I came to have a lot of free time on my hands (I got laid off January '09), and I snagged some lightweight denim from Wal-Mart on mark down, dug out grandma's old Singer Model 221, and got to sewing.

The first kilt was a piece of...well, you get the idea. With no cloth guide, no previous sewing experience, and no detailed guide to go by, my kilt was measured for my waist, not hips, the pleats weren't deep enough, and the denim wrinkled horribly. What it was: comfortable. I HATE pants. I want to be free, darn it, and I won't stop until I've got a kilt for every day of the week. Maybe not then, either.

The second one was flannel. It was still measured to the waist, not the hip, but it had a faux tartan pattern that gave me a good idea where to sew and where to pleat. This one I didn't iron, figuring that the sewing-down of the knife-edges would make the pleats stay. Wrong! It has elastic in the waistband, but is not terribly well constructed, even though it's light-years beyond my first.

The third is in progress. 8 or 9 oz black semi-stretch twill, again a Wal-mart special, and the equivalent of 10 yards of material. I bought five yards, split it lengthwise, and sewed the ends together. I plan to hide the seam in a pleat. Also, my pleats, instead of being 2" showing and 2" hidden (total of 6" material per pleat) are going to be 1" showing and 5" hidden, or 11" of material per pleat. It's a bigger project and should be finished in a month or two.

The addition of a Brother Model 592 sewing machine (I love thrift stores, the $300 machine cost me $20) gave me more attachments, including an invaluable cloth guide, as well as a total of 28 different stitches and double needle sewing. And it's easier to use. Between the machine, my prior mistakes, and the X-Kilt guide, I should have a pretty good-looking kilt when I get done.

I haven't bought any nice material, and I'm not going to until I produce a good kilt. I know a traditional kilt is hand-sewn, but I don't have the patience.

I do have a couple of questions, however. What is the difference between Poly-Viscose and MM Poly-Viscose listed in the Fabric Guide? I'm not a tailor, I'm completely self-taught, so I don't know a lot about fabric. Also, does anyone on here have experience with hemp or bamboo cloth? Part of my Bachelor's project is the development of alternative renewable resources, and I'm in love with bamboo and hemp.

Thanks!

**RonnieMac13** · 29th January 10, 08:29 AM

Welcome from North Little Rock

**Chas** · 29th January 10, 09:15 AM

Hello Lokishadow,

I have no idea how to answer your questions, but I know that there are a lot here who can.

Welcome to XMarks from The other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

Regards

Chas

**Jack Daw** · 29th January 10, 09:20 AM

Hello and welcome from Houston, TX!

**mrtackytn** · 29th January 10, 09:36 AM

Welcome to X-Marks - from Music City, USA - Nashville, TN !!

**GDub** · 29th January 10, 10:30 AM

Welcome from the San Francisco Bay Area!

**McMathTX** · 29th January 10, 10:38 AM

Welcome from Fort Worth!
Dean

**Dr Mac** · 29th January 10, 11:09 AM

from Bryan/College Station

**KiltedSurveyor** · 29th January 10, 11:23 AM

Welcome from Dickson, Tennessee!

**starbkjrus** · 29th January 10, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Lokishadow

snip.....

I do have a couple of questions, however. What is the difference between Poly-Viscose and MM Poly-Viscose listed in the Fabric Guide? I'm not a tailor, I'm completely self-taught, so I don't know a lot about fabric. Also, does anyone on here have experience with hemp or bamboo cloth? Part of my Bachelor's project is the development of alternative renewable resources, and I'm in love with bamboo and hemp.

Thanks!

First of all Hello and

from Northern Virginia.

I know that two members here (among others) should be able to answer your fabric questions...

Robert Pel at RKilts makes wonderful hemp kilts

and Rocky Roeger at USA Kilts does a LOT with Poly-Viscose (Rayon)

Best of luck in your kilt making.