Well, that's me then...

[Kevin Ferguson]

This being the place for newbs: Irregularities with my IP address aroused the admin's suspicions, so I thought I'd best put his mind at ease.

My user name is what I was born with, stereotypical as it might be. The same one as over at the Bob Dunsire piping forum. Could be worse....I actually worked with a man named Angus MacDougal some years ago.

I own one vaguely kilt shaped article of clothing, but seldom wear it as it is such a cheap horrid thing that I worry over some embarrassing wardrobe failure that would leave me liable to charges of indecent exposure. It is so bad that I literally keep safety pins in my sporran, and have had more than one occasion to need them! And I am not a fan of that tartan, which was used by a pipe band I used to play with. It pretty much clashes with everything but black. ("Well, it's tartan!" I hear you say...yes and some are worse than others!) I'll not mention the clan, lest I offend.

I would like to wear kilt more often, but the activities where I'd want to are varied enough that a single kilt won't do. (yes, I have seen the "1 kilt 10 looks" thread.) Also I have grand ambitions about losing weight, so fear to spend what a decent kilt costs only to have it become too large. (or gods forbid too small!) At any rate, learning to make a kilt seems attractive both from economics and it just seeming very interesting and challenging, and if nothing else I'll become an informed buyer if I decide I haven't the knack. I'd swear I ordered "The Art of Kilt Making" book from Amazon a few weeks back, but it hasn't appeared yet. (used copy from an affiliate I think it was).

I haven't sewed in some years, but made a number of down-filled jackets and two sleeping bags from kits as a teenager, and have done a lot of saddle stitching of leather...holsters and cases for radios and such. I'm good with my hands, patient, and have good maths and spacial visualization....so I delude myself to believe I can learn to make a passable kilt (or 10!)

I guess I'll start by asking for advice on what sort of kilt might make a good first project??

As I'd want a lighter kilt for hiking (some of it in the desert) I imagine that might be a good first project....if nothing else the fabric would be cheaper, making mistakes less costly. But perhaps heavy high quality tartan handles much easier and helps the beginner?

[MinusHD]

Welcome from North Texas!

[cessna152towser]

fromSCOTLAND

[Tomak]

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

[Kevin Ferguson]

fromSCOTLAND

Scotland is so BIG! Who knew?

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

... which geographically is even much bigger!

[Jim Simmons]

from the GREEN HIGHLANDS of GUATEMALA !!

[kiltedcontractor]

Ive been around here long enough to know....first time kilt makers should get Barbara Tewksury s book. Welcome to the fun

[Cavalry Scout]

From another brand newbie, welcome to XMTS. This is a great forum with lots of great information.

-Mark-

[Tarheel]

Well met Kevin. I get the aspiration on sewing a kilt (or 10) as you put it. Good luck with that, but having sewing skills is a plus. Hope to hear from you often here.
Yes, Scotland is big in our hearts, minds and vision. Welcome and kilt on.