I'm a short guy with a short drop

[Kilted44]

Hi there. Long time kilt wearer and first time DIYer. I have a 19in drop to the first third of my knee. Would it be possible to split a yard of double width into three yards at 20in? My waist is 28in so I'm thinking this would give me plenty of material for a casual kilt. I'd try it out on cheaper material I have first (cappy felted tartan I got for free for the kids) to test. I'd like to see what you experienced folk think first though.

Thanks!

[Taskr]

That would depend, I imagine, on the sett (to match up) and if the width is actually 6o" or greater

[Kilted44]

That would depend, I imagine, on the sett (to match up) and if the width is actually 6o" or greater

Thanks for the advice! In the coming weeks/months I'll be reading and measuring (many times) to see if that's possible for either set of wool. Just got my other set and turns out it's a heavy herringbone tweed in Black Stewart Ancient tartan. It's a little off on the white in the weave (probably due to it being herringbone), so I'll play around with pleating to sett and line to see if I can hide/diminish that aspect. Going to put in a lot of effort on that one due to family significance. Hope to make it my piping gig kilt.

[Pleater]

It might be easiest to cut the fabric across the warp, making 57 or 60 ish inch pieces of the length required, as long as the sett makes it an economical way to cut.

I have a couple of kilts cut that way due to the pattern - a pin stripe, a multi-coloured stripe, a rather rectangular fashion tartan. The join is easily done as an interior fold or an over sewn seam, depending on how the selvedge is done. I have some fabric which has a rough Nylon twist at the very edge and orange and white, so it had to be picked out -



and then the edges joined.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Barb T]

It's highly unlikely that 20" would be an exact multiple of the sett. If it isn't, you can't match the pieces up. Also, remember that you have to have enough for a hem in each piece _plus_ a piece for the top band. Because most tartan isn't a true 45 weave, the tartan sett doesn't isn't quite the same along the warp and the weft. The only strip that will match the top of the apron for the top band is one cut parallel to the warp. And that needs to be at least an inch and a half wide. So, all in all, you'd be better off just making two pieces with the selvedge at the bottom of the kilt and saving the middle strip for the top band and another project (like a kilt for a little tyke).