First steps on the road to kilt making

**Laird_M** · 11th November 13, 06:23 AM

OK, it's nothing earth shattering, but with a little advice from Chas and especially Steve A, I've just taught myself how to use an electric sewing machine.
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The item on the left is a bag I had hand-sewn but the seams didn't hold. (No I didn't make the flashes.. that's another project for another time) It now has proper seams.

The one on the right is my first actual project - a small wallet to hold my eldest son's kilt pins. Only took me about 15 minutes.

I'm pretty proud of myself.

A few more practice sessions making bags for hose, sporrans, etc., and once I'm happy that I can sew in straight lines, I'll attempt my first kilt for Shehan.

**Kiltboy** · 11th November 13, 07:41 AM

That's a great start. Sewing bags and storage items is a super way to learn the ups (and downs) of a sewing machine.

**Grizzly** · 11th November 13, 09:32 AM

Well done Martin! I would like to learn to use a sewing machine as I have a couple of projects that I would like to have a go at. Nothing as tricky as a kilt though. A local sewing shop gives introductory lessons which I may have a go at.

My late mother was very good with a sewing machine, such a shame I never took the time to learn fom her.

**Laird_M** · 11th November 13, 09:44 AM

Thanks guys.

With the kids growing so fast I'm hoping it'll be cheaper to make kilts than keep buying them...plus I'll hopefully get good enough to progress to making one for me. And then of course Imi will probably want another three...

**ratspike** · 11th November 13, 10:03 AM

Even if you never make a kilt, being able to use a sewing machine is a really useful skill to have. I wish I'd learned to sew 20 years ago. Plus, it's just plain fun!

I'm afraid you've got it wrong about wanting three kilts for yourself. Once you've made that first one you're going to want a closet full of them. Just giving you fair warning.

**StevieR** · 11th November 13, 10:04 AM

Well done Martin. Stick with it - the workshop for sporrans, kilts, candles and other beautiful things will surely follow!

**Laird_M** · 11th November 13, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by ratspike

Even if you never make a kilt, being able to use a sewing machine is a really useful skill to have. I wish I'd learned to sew 20 years ago. Plus, it's just plain fun!

I'm afraid you've got it wrong about wanting three kilts for yourself. Once you've made that first one you're going to want a closet full of them. Just giving you fair warning.

Bob - Imi is my wife and she has a thing for women's kilt skirts. If I start making them for myself, she may just say that her existing three aren't enough...

Steve - I can only hope.

**brewerpaul** · 11th November 13, 06:27 PM

Welcome to the world of tailoring and needle and thread. I came to this world in a trade of skills with my girlfriend, Jennifer, who wanted to learn to do woodworking. I have the saws and skills and she knew how to sew. This was about a year and a half ago and you will find yourself wondering what your next project is, what fabric can you find to make it from and what can I add to my clothing I wear with my kilts. At present Ive got at least 10 different types of wool suiting and tweed awaiting my machines.

Ill offer you plenty of encouragement and a couple of pointers you can use or not as you wish. I think you can skip the obligatory making of the apron and flannel pants and head right to the pattern shop. Usually the next step in progression, and a dandy one to do and wear, is the vest or waistcoat. I mention this because besides sewing in a straight line you get to learn many other skills associated with sewing. With the simple vest you can learn to adjust your machine and sew together different fabrics such as a tweed wool front and cotton/poly or sating linning. You also get to work with, fit and modify a pattern as you need. Cutting and clipping curves and corners is also learned along with using a topstitch thread and needle to topstitch your vest. I would also recommend learning how to make real welt pockets, not just the faux front. Also learn to do hand made button holes, they are quite easy and look much nicer. Below are my first two works after the apron and jammie pants.

These are easy patterns that are sold by all of the major pattern companies and they are quite easy to learn from. I learned quite a bit doing these two vests and have branched out into many other things. I reserve my lenghts of kilt tartan though for the day when I start hand stitching a kilt.

Also a couple of good books come to mind that are a must at your sewing table.

Readers Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing ISBN 978-1-60652-208-0
And if you can find an old copy, I got my off ebay, this is a book on mens clothing.

Simplicity's Sewing For Men and Boys.

Before long you will be hooked like me and many others here. Lets see being hooked means I have 2 sewing machines, 1 serger, 2 tables to work on, a cabinet with just material, thread and buttons, a file cabinet full of patterns and Jennifer who enjoys a winter evening sitting with me sipping scotch doing fine hand work.

A couple more photos to show where this can take you if you are willing to use your imagination, take your time to fit and modify a pattern and alway always have fun.

1800s vest in bugundy worsted wool

Easy to make tweed bonnet

Tweed hunting vest with quilted linning. Goes nice with kilt or breeks

Fun stuff like a flask cover, you can also make phone holders too.

And my rather ambitions jump over the cliff of sewing, my Inverness cape

You get the picture, pun intended. Just find fun projects and soon you will fill your closet, your wife's closet and your kids closet with wonderful hand made items. On a personal note I feel this is a skill that is being loss to mass production and more people, men and women both, should take up this enjoyable and creative activity. Besides it has paid off, Jennifer has cut lots of lumber and still can count to 10.

**Laird_M** · 12th November 13, 02:34 AM

BP - thanks for th encouragement, and yes I'll take the tips and advice. I know I've still got a heck of a lot to learn and I'm not to proud/arrogant to deny it.

I'll take a look at evil-bay for those books.

**usonian** · 12th November 13, 01:07 PM

Congrats on taking the first steps towards a larger world of possibilities! Once you've gotten a little more comfortable, I would second having a go at making a vest/waistcoat. The first one I made was Simplicity 2346, variation 'D'. It's pretty straightforward and results in a nice garment (with the caveat that it doesn't have any darts for shaping... but that's what keeps it simple!) I shortened the main front and back pieces of the pattern by 3 inches, left off the patch pocket, and it made a very serviceable kilt-length waistcoat. I made one out of poly viscose tartan to match my kilt. I think the hardest part of the project was laying the front pieces out so the tartan lined up symmetrically; the actual sewing was a piece of cake!

And one thing to keep in mind, if you're looking ahead to making a traditional 8 yard kilt (for example using The Art of Kiltmaking as a guide): You'll be doing most if not all of the sewing by hand, so while the techniques and terminology learned from working other patterns will certainly be useful, you needn't be an expert at operating a sewing machine to make a fine kilt! I haven't tried machine-sewing a traditional 8-yard kilt yet, but knowing how much fabric there is to deal with and the precision required on narrow pleats, I could imagine it actually being harder to manage with a machine than by hand.

Happy sewing!

(P.S. Brewerpaul, may I inquire what pattern you used to make that gorgeous burgundy waistcoat?)