New member from Central Scotland

**joe=totale** · 6th September 22, 01:50 PM

Hi folks
I stay in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, and am new to sewing and the forum. So far I've made a couple of shirts and almost finished a calico for trousers. I recently got TAOK and am keen to try to make my first ever kilt. I'm undecided whether to go for a knife-pleated 8 yard PV tartan or a medium weight tweed with box pleats and less fabric. I'm planning to pop to The Scotland Shop in Edinburgh soon to get measured by a pro and check out some fabrics - that could be fatal as I suspect I'll fall in love with a heavy woolen tweed and not sure I should take the risk for my first attempt. We shall see... I've been having fun checking out your kiltmaking advice and photos of your quality garments.
Best
Joe

**Father Bill** · 6th September 22, 02:00 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble'!

**Liam** · 6th September 22, 02:01 PM

Welcome to the forum from Western Canada!

**kilted2000** · 6th September 22, 02:49 PM

Failte from the Home of the Blues!

**Steve Ashton** · 6th September 22, 08:19 PM

I had a retail kilt shop and made custom kilts for 20 years. I also taught kiltmaking with Barb Tewksbury for many years.

People thinking about making their own kilt always seemed to have a similar question. - Should I make a "practice kilt" out of less expensive fabric?

The best answer I ever heard was - If you make a practice kilt what you have in the end is a practice kilt that you may or may not ever wear. Then you have to buy more, more expensive fabric, and do it all over again.
If you start out with the best quality fabric you can afford or the fabric you want most. - What you have in the end is something you can be proud to wear and proud to tell everyone, - I made this!

The fact is that making a kilt is not like making a shirt or a pair of trousers. You do not cut out shapes that are then joined together to create a 3 dimensional shape.
A kilt is made from one long rectangle of fabric. Right up until one of the very last steps you do not cut the fabric. At anytime, if you do not like the result of your stitching, you can take the whole thing apart and start over. Your real kilt is your practice kilt.

**ThistleDown** · 6th September 22, 10:44 PM

Welcome, from Inverness-shire and British Columbia.

**Tomak** · 7th September 22, 06:42 AM

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

**Kiltedjohn** · 7th September 22, 08:59 AM

Welcome from a Scotsman living in the English Midlands. I have ancestors from Clackmannanshire (Alva and Tillicoultry). Spent a holiday there a few years ago, exploring the area.