What is the X-Kilt for?

[Alan H]

Just a review and reality check, here.... why did I write the X-Kilt manual?

1. so that people who know *nothing* about sewing could LEARN what goes into making a kilt, so that when they bought one, they understood why it cost as much as it does. Do you freak out at the price of a Freedom kilt? Well, go make an X-Kilt and then you'll understand why it costs what it does.

2. so that people who know *nothing* about sewing could make themselves a contemporary kilt for a low price. Are you broke? Do you want a contemporary kilt to wear in casual situations, but you simply can't afford a super-nice kilt? OK, then...make an X-Kilt and go wear it.

It is NOT intended to be the be-all, end-all tailored contemporary kilt
It is NOT intended to be the model of construction for a traditional kilt

It's a bang-it-together, low-tech, low-effort, knockaround kilt that's an educational tool, and a way for someone with little money to get into wearing kilts.

So quit stressing over whether it's topstitched or not, or whether the tartan (tartan??????) you've chosen is the exact right weight, or whether that quarter-inch difference in the under-apron pleat is going to show..... just get the freakin' cheap cloth, get out the chalk, fire up the bluidy machine and MAKE THE THING and LEARN. If the first one is horrible, the second one will be better. The instructions are not perfect. They're pretty good....they must be since 100+ X-Kilts have been made, but I fully admit that they're not perfect. But you know what? You're a smart dude/dudette. I bet you can figure a way around the little imperfections in the manual and still turn out a decent garment.

After you've made two X-Kilts you'll know if you want to go on and make more kilts, and whether you want to expand your skills to include more hand-techniques, and traditional stuff. You will have LEARNED. You'll almost certainly will also have a garment you can wear for hiking, working on the car and general mayhem. But for heavens sake save the nice cloth for kilts #3 and beyond. That's not what the X-Kilt is about. If you spend more than $30 for cloth for your X-Kilt #1 and #2 (assuming you make two) you're spending too much money.

If you get to kilt #3 and you decide you're in love with the X-Kilt and that is what you want for your super-nice kilt, then by all means go for it. But that's NOT the purpose for which the X-Kilt manual was written up.

PS: It's a freakin' instruction manual, not a Tome. For heavens sake, don't read the thing 20 times before you start. Skim it once, read the introduction again, then get out the cloth and chalk and START. Learn by doing, that's the whole point.

I am reminded of George Buehlers "Backyard Boatbuilding" book which contains in it a memorable quote. "It's a boat, not a SHRINE".

[Doomsday]

just get the freakin' cheap cloth, get out the chalk, fire up the bluidy machine and MAKE THE THING and LEARN.

Yup, it's the only way. Get the fabric, get the pins, and experiment. It's not exactly designed for $80.00 a yard tartan. But, once you put it together right it looks pretty good.

[Mipi]

I think,this is also the good way for someone who doesn't have any clue what the kilt is to learn about it.

Very good job Alan!

[Alan H]

DO NOT....I repeat DO NOT assume that because you have a manual, you can turn your brain off while you work. I'm a teacher by nature, and that's what this is all about...learning. I'm seriously into people using their brains. Use yours.

Don't read the manual twenty times. I can't believe people are doing this. For heavens sake, you could have had the stupid thing DONE in the time you've taken to re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-read it.... Don't be intimidated. Don't be Intimidated! Believe in yourself. It's only a piece of cloth folded up like an accordian and strapped around yer rump! You have nothing to lose, here, beyond about thirty bucks worth of cloth and some time. Get someone to teach you how to use the sewing machine and just START. I mean, the first step is to go buy the material, right? So go buy some twill or bull denim at ten bucks a yard or less. Quit this hullaballoo about wool tartans and oh dear, is weathered, 13 ounce, is that good enough? CHEAP is the word, here. CHEAP. Not "frugal" just outright CHEAP. Just get some plain or camo twill or bull denim and START. This is not the kilt you're handing down to your great, great grandchildren. This is the kilt you're mowing the lawn in.

START....read a few paragraphs in the manual, stare at your cloth, and try to imagine what you're trying to do. Read the steps again, and then DO THEM. If you can't figure something out in the manual, then think on your feet and find your own solution. You're smart, use the brain you've got. By doing so, you will LEARN and if your first one is a disaster, you'll know why, and the second one will rock.

OK, enough ranting. Sheesh. You'd think the stupid kilt was, like religion or something. Just MAKE the thing. If you make an abomination, it doesn't matter, you LEARNED and the second one will be better.

[ardchoille]

Very good points. Thanks for the reality check.

[McMurdo]

Alan, very well said

[oldfool]

Well said.
I read it but did not make it. I did my own thing but I sure used the guidance the manual afforded. I have made two serviceable kilts now and I have made some mistakes but not near what it would have been if I had not read it.
Thanks.

[Bugbear]

Post deleted.

[ScottEPooh]

I will say, however, that re-reading the instruction manual is a good thing, at least for the entertainment value. I enjoyed the "personal" style you put into it, Alan. But you are right, poring over every nuance of the manual for a couple of hours is more for the Redundant Society of Redundancy. As Nike was fond of saying, "Just Do It"...

[meinfs]

My pointers (from experience):

Read the manual when you have the cloth ready. It doesn't make sense to read the whole thing without fabric. But be sure to have washed (hot) the (cotton/cottonpoly) first and dried, before you sit down to work on it. Preshrink now before sewing.

Decide early on: to hem or not to hem the selvedge.

Print an extra copy on a single (full) page of the sketch of the sample kilt diagram with all the lines etc. It's to good to consult it as you mark the fabric. It gives you an overall picture.
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Other than for referring/refreshing the memory, I hardly read the manual on my second kilt (but I still had the diagram quickly available.

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When I couldn't understand something (and I try to decipher the meaning), I just try something, anything. The results will show when it's done and I will have learned something. I also had the experience from using Barb's book before the xkilt.

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Thanks again Alan H for the xkilt manual!