Kilt Pattern?

[Mr. MacDougall]

So, I was tossing around the idea of a jeans kilt -- something made from denim, to a more-or-less traditional pattern. I can make one less expensively than I can get someone else to make it for me -- medium weight denim runs about $6 the yard -- and it's not as if I'm inexperienced with garment construction.

So, I did a quick websearch, and found that Folkwear #152 is a kilt. I'm familiar with their patterns, having used a few in the past, so I'm sure it's a decent pattern. But I'm wondering if there's a pattern other people have used, and would recommend for a casual kilt?

Thanks in advance.

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Alan_H wrote a manual how to make an X-Kilt which is a box-pleat kilt of non-tartan material. I haven't made one, but many of the forum members have. The link is below.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20085

[chasem]

www.celticdragonpress.com for Barb T's Book, The Art of Kiltmaking. You can't beat it for a "pattern" ;)

[Alan H]

There is no such thing, truly as a kilt "pattern". Ther' sno point, it's a big strip of cloth folded up in pleats in the back and overlapping in the front. There's not a lot to cut out in special shapes, eh?

If you want a contemporary kilt, the X-Kilt instructions are pretty easy to understand and I think about 20-25 of them have been made. you can come to the forum and ask questions and you'll have the xperience of a bunch of makers to draw upon.....built in tech support! Follow that link and try it, if you think a box-pleat will work for you.

If you ever want to make a traditional kilt, then Barb's book is THE Schniznit....you gotta own it.

[sjrapid]

If you want a trad look in denim, then why not do what I just did - use Barb Tewksbury's book, follow her method, but do it in denim, and machine sew where possible.

Works well - looks very 'trad' in style.

Best regards

[The Wizard of BC]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.
Each stitch line must be done with 100% Polyester thread too. Look at the side seam of a pair of blue jeans. See that puckering. that is what each line of stitching will look like very soon if you don't pre-shrink and iron each pleat every time you wash the kilt.
Can you tell I'm not a fan of Denim for kilts? Especially self-made ones. Everyone thinks that a kilt made from denim will feel like a well lived in pair of blue jeans when the exact opposite is true. Most denim kilts feel stiff and rigid. Cotton wrinkles, a lot, and must be ironed to retain the crisp edge to the pleats. You don't have legs inside tubes to force the fabric into a shape so must do it with an iron.
Only after repeated washings does denim start to soften enough to hang on it's own.

[Tartan Hiker]

What everyone else said.....I don't like to make anything out of denim and the X-kilt instruction manual is great for a quick contempo kilt, but use cotton/poly twill.

[bunchdescendant]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.
Each stitch line must be done with 100% Polyester thread too. Look at the side seam of a pair of blue jeans. See that puckering. that is what each line of stitching will look like very soon if you don't pre-shrink and iron each pleat every time you wash the kilt.
Can you tell I'm not a fan of Denim for kilts? Especially self-made ones. Everyone thinks that a kilt made from denim will feel like a well lived in pair of blue jeans when the exact opposite is true. Most denim kilts feel stiff and rigid. Cotton wrinkles, a lot, and must be ironed to retain the crisp edge to the pleats. You don't have legs inside tubes to force the fabric into a shape so must do it with an iron.
Only after repeated washings does denim start to soften enough to hang on it's own.

What he said!

but is a dozen times really enough? Maybe use a cement mixer with some sump rock for an all afternoon ride. Should be a little softer by then.

Link to Alan's instructions:

http://www.modelautoracing.com/kilt/X-Kilt_final2.pdf

I feel bad about not putting the link in originally-I'm hosting them for Alan! Oops!

Ray

[sjrapid]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.

Steve is so right - yes indeedy! And to qupte Alan H elsewhere, 'shrink the dickens out of it...' before you start sewing.

Best regards

[Mark Keeney]

I have the folkwear pattern and the kilt pattern is just instructions not a pattern with pieces to cut. I used the pattern to make tartan kilt hose. It only took 18 months.