Because every little girl should have a kilt just like Daddys

**Alan H** · 2nd December 11, 12:15 PM

So, Mike has a little girl, name of 'Bella. Miss Bella is two and a half years old.

So I looked at the leftover bits of Holyrood tartan that I had lying around after finishing Mikes kilt... Hmmm, sez I. I pinged Bella's mommy, Mindy, on Facebook and got her tummy measurement. So last night and this morning, I made miss Bella a 5-pleat, box pleated kilt in the Holyrood tartan.

OK, the construction details aren't quite up to the level of Mike's kilt. The waistband doesn't match the pattern on the front of the over-apron....hey, I had to make it happen with scraps. There' isn't a liner. I don't think Bella is going to care very much!

I was going to close it with velcro, but this morning I looked in my sporran drawer and there in plain sight lie those half-straps. You know, the ones that come with the chain, when you buy an inexpensive sporran? I never use the chain, it chews through kilts, so those straps and buckles just sit in my drawer. However, the leather from one strap and one buckle will make a dandy over-apron closure for Bella's kilt.....buckles, just like Daddy's kilt.

That's WAY better than velcro. I'll put a couple of buttons on the inside for the under-apron. So far I have about 3 hours invested in this project. By thye time I'm done it will probably be about 4 1/2.

The time/coolness ratio is seriously on the WIN wide for this one.....Mindy says she'll send pics, so you'll all have something to see in January.

**Thomas H** · 2nd December 11, 12:31 PM

Aww That is a wonderfull idea , Pictures ?

**Ryan Ross** · 2nd December 11, 12:44 PM

Bravo, good sir!!!

Now that's something double-awesome. Can't wait to see the pics. In fact, will you think about photographing it when you're done, for those of us who like instant gratification (and proof that it happened)?

**Alan H** · 2nd December 11, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

Bravo, good sir!!!

Now that's something double-awesome. Can't wait to see the pics. In fact, will you think about photographing it when you're done, for those of us who like instant gratification (and proof that it happened)?

Sure, Ryan...but I'm NOT "modelling" Bella's kilt, like I did Mikes!

I'll snap a pic or two tonight.

I have to say that knocking a little kids kilt out is no big deal. You know how when you order double-width tartan, you cut the material for your kilt from one selvedged edge and then the other, and join the two? Well that leaves a 2-4 yard strip in the middle, 10-12 inches wide. Some of that will get used for the kilts waistband, but you have more than enough left in that 10-12 inch strip to make a kilt for a little kid.

After cutting bits for waistbands and so on for Miles kilt, and actually wasting a foot from a stupid cut I made, I had about 6, maybe 7 feet left. If I was careful, this was plenty for Bella's kilt.

I remember seeing X-Marker, Shaun Maxwells little Molly in a tiny kilt made for her and the cuteness factor was pretty outrageous. Maybe Shaun will post a pic of Molly in here by way of illustration. This job is a big payoff for very little work, even if the little kid is growing like a weed. They'll be able to wear it for a year, or at least one full Highland Games season, and that's good return for 4-5 hours work..

**Whidbey78** · 2nd December 11, 04:01 PM

I've made a couple for my two-year-old Mini-Me. Doesn't take much fabric, and I used the same center-strip you're talking about, though not in tartan in our case. Unfortunately, now he's big enough that the scraps aren't wide enough. But, since I can buy a yard or two and get multiple kilts from it, it's still not a bad deal. I wish mine were that cheap!

Thanks for the tip on using El Cheapo sporran chain straps and buckles that I don't use anymore. Darn good idea, and a better use for them than eating my kilt. I haven't made a kilt with buckles for him yet though. Velcro works fine for him and allows easy adjustments. I may start putting one strap on the right side (in addition to the velcro) instead of using a belt. I have to do something to keep him from streaking!

**bigdad1** · 2nd December 11, 05:07 PM

Alan I always knew you were a nice guy. Good job.

**SFCRick** · 2nd December 11, 05:37 PM

What a very nice thing of you to do, I look forward to the future Father/Daughter photos.

**CopperNGold** · 2nd December 11, 07:00 PM

That was such a nice thing for you to do, Alan! Good for you! I can't wait to see the father/daughter photos.

**Highlander31** · 2nd December 11, 07:28 PM

What a great idea, Alan. Proof once again, we have some good people here on Xmarks. Look forward to seeing the photos.

**LitTrog** · 2nd December 11, 07:29 PM

Try as you may to mitigate your sweetness

by delineating how easy it all was, it is, as they say, the thought that counts. Not only did you think to make the wee kilt, but you actually executed. I think that means that it counts twice.

Now I have to throw out all those horrible opinions of you I had already formed and felt were spot-on. I hate being wr-wr-wr-wr...wrong.

Cannot wait to see Daddy and daughter together.