Tartan Scraps

[TheBrus]

M.A.C. Newsome was kind enough to send back the tartan scraps from my new kilt. One piece (the bit between the two widths of cloth) was about 10' long and 10" wide. The best use for this, I think, is to make a tartan scarf.

I've matched up the two halfs and folded them so I have a double-thickness of scarf-length material. I've pinned the two halves together, and am now using a back-stitch to put them together to form a tube. When I am done stitching, I'll snip apart the fold and turn the tube inside out. When the side seams are rightside out, I'll stitch the ends closed and fringe the edges about six inches on either end.

My question is, when the tube is turned "rightside out", is there anything I should do? I had thought of quilting the two pieces to make the scarf even more durable... but I'm not sure if that's necessary.

Thoughts?

JDB

[Pleater]

I would top stitch along the seams using a running stitch to go there and back again, to make a continuous line of stitches. That will make the seam more stable and reduce any chance of it fraying inside.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Laird_M]

Once turned the right side out, I'd steam press to give nice crisp edges.

I'm plannign on making a few kilts when time/money are not so tight, and using some of the offcuts to make my own flashes to go with them.

[TheBrus]

@ Anne - I'm using a back stitch, which, I believe, should meet that requirement. This is the first thing I've actually ever sewn, because I chickened out of making the kilt. If I interpreted the instructions correctly, this should work just as you say. It looks like a long, straight line of stiching without any spacing in between. My stitches are about 1 cm in length, and they double back half-way into each stitch, creating 1/2 cm stitches. It seems pretty sturdy so far.

@ Martin - That was my plan, to use the steam iron. Have you checked out Marton Mills's Jura range of tartans? A wide selection at a reasonable price. The quality of the cloth passed Matt's inspection, and the kilt I got from it looks good. It's less than GBP 20 a meter, double width.

[piperdbh]

Here's a curve ball for you. What if you went to the fabric store and bought a yard of flannel in a color that coordinates with the tartan, cut it into pieces and sew them together to make 2 strips the same size as your tartan pieces, and use these strips as the "neck side" of your scarves? Tartan fabric can be kind of itchy against the skin, and the flannel would feel soft and cozy. Plus, you'd wind up with two scarves.

[TheBrus]

I hear stitches ripping... a lining of some kind might be nice. Excellent idea! A scarf for me and one for the boy.

[ForresterModern]

I was thinking that at the very least you should press down the side seams to make sure the body of the scarf stays flat, but as it will still be a tube of fabric I think putting something heat fusible between the two layers might be a good idea to keep everything held together without shifting of the tube.

I have a tartan wool scarf I wear in the winter (13 oz single thickness with tightly rolled side seams) and have no issues with itching, any more than I do with the same tartan wool kilt I wear all year round. The weave is tight enough and the wool fine enough that it really is not an issue IMHO.

Not personally fond of the mixing of the tartan on one side and another fabric on the other as a "lining"----I think some of the above concerns may be worsened if the two fabrics do not have the same weight or stiffness.

One man's O.

jeff

[Laird_M]

@ Martin - That was my plan, to use the steam iron. Have you checked out Marton Mills's Jura range of tartans? A wide selection at a reasonable price. The quality of the cloth passed Matt's inspection, and the kilt I got from it looks good. It's less than GBP 20 a meter, double width.

Been looking at Elegant Scotland as their stuff is only £15 a metre. OK its only Poly-viscose, but my Harris os PV and feels ok, so to me the saving is worth it until I can afford something better.