Xkilt ...X Factor from Down Under

**Mark Stevenson** · 9th October 12, 04:07 PM

Well I did all the reading that my feeble brain could handle and decided to give it a go. Ordered a printed cotton plaid (7yds) from the US and Clan tartan wool from the old country. Practiced with the Xkilt before attempting (screwing up) the wool. This I can say with absolute authority, don't make any mistakes on the woven wool, @54 pounds/yd you can kill your wallet, dead! Hints for anyone wanting to give it a go, use a leather work needle in the sewing machine, and turn the spindle shaft by hand when doing the waist band. Maybe slow but you won't break the needle or burn out the motor. When pleating, Fold / Pin / Iron / Check it again / Tack Sew / Check again / Sew. I used an old 12th centry Pirate pattern I found to modify a Jackobite vest, material was black faux leather (car seating). Carved the toggles and re-learnt to braid/plat all the edges. Rules won't let me attach photos, I think so if you want a laugh look here, http://www.facebook.com/mark.stevenson.186. I bought a fake Dirk and broke the plastic handle off the Stainless blade and carved an antler and then bought the biggest natural Ruby (88Cts) on Ebay ($10) and cemented it on. The Sgian Dubh is almost the same but a Royal Blue Sapphire (67Cts-$12). Surrounded both stones with 60 tiny golden sapphires (4c each), don't know how the Asians can do it for the price, and near free postage. The sporan was made from my old arm chair leather (turned inside out) and the fastening peg was carved from water buffalo horn. Time spent: 3 solid days making Xkilt. 4 arduous days for the Fly (fringing). My trad Clan Kilt (knife pleat) slowly over 3 weeks. To shut the wife up from all her laughing, I wore the Xkilt (St Patrick's) to my State's Archery Titles. Copped a bit of ribbing about Brass Monkeys as it was 3-7 degreesC. Shot Traditional Longbow (as you should expect) and to rub it in to all the nockers...... walked away with the Gold Medal. Poetic justice, or what?

**dougle** · 9th October 12, 05:03 PM

Hi & welcome from Worcestershire England

**Mark Stevenson** · 9th October 12, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the welcome, should be in your neck of the woods about 7 July 13. You know! pre-retirement trip although the wife says I did that 20yrs ago.