Ok, you guys talked me into it.

[wortmonger]

Well, after reading thread after thread and ordering the books you guys have finally talked me into making my own kilt. I can't wait until the new edition of The art of Kiltmaking comes out, so I am trying a practice one out of some poly cotton fabric. The fabric wasn't thick enough so I am lining it with poly cotton tan fabric. I laid everything out and cut the fabric only to realize there is no sewing machine here at the house, ugghhhh. I am curious before I get started any further if this looks like it might make a nice kilt? I will keep posting on this thread once I get the sewing machine back from Mom and can hem the selvedge on this fabric. I am starting with 5.2yds of fabric and it will be a traditional style kilt with knife pleating. I hate to start a thread on my kilt without having a time libe on when it will be done, but Mom says she will help me here in 2 weeks and she is pretty confident we can get it done. I have been telling her about this community and she is pretty excited to help. My Dad, brother and others are not so accepting to the fact that I want to make or wear a kilt, but a future dress gordon on the golf course and at the afterparties should get plenty of comments and may swing them to the kiltie. I wore one at a wedding and got tons of great comments on how sexy I looked, so I am going on that .

Here's a couple of pics of my start, I am anxious to hear from you guys. I think I will get it done faster with criticism from this forum more than anything else. I am amazed at how many kilt wearers there are and how nioce everyone looks in them.

[Arlen]

For some reason this only just showed up for me today.
I like that fabric. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result.

[ardchoille]

Good luck to you! I am also looking forward to the new edition of Art of Kiltmaking, planning to learn this art myself. Keep posting so we can follow its development

[Alan H]

That is one BIG sett!!

[James MacMillan]

I am not a kilt maker, seamstress, or tailor!!!
But to my eye, these



look like a table cloth.

[way2fractious]

C'mon, you guys! Thin material.. lining.. big sett.. tablecloth.. pink..

Cut the laddie some slack. This first foray into kiltmaking has all the earmarks of an X-kilt, ie., cheap, local, do-able, wearable, confidence booster, etc.

I, for one, want to see how this progresses.

[James MacMillan]

My opinion stands - looks like a table cloth. After it's completed, where do you wear it?

On the up side - Nice House! Golf clubs and hardwood floors, nice view! Great diggs!

[Perldog007]

Well for my first kilt - a tragedy of woodland digi camo, lawn mowing and general puttering about the woodlot. The second version - chocolate chip
desert camo - knife pleats and all the taper in the apron - goes to work occasionally and does great around the house and yard. The third - cotton khaki canvas - semi xkilt with tragic aprons - goes to work and is excellent for bbq and woodlot chores.

The fourth -woodland camo- one gets worn a couple of times a week by my neighbor who drives people to medical appointments for the state.

The fifth - also woodland camo - pics are coming after we get it washed again (that is a standard, wash-wear-wash again before posting pics) is actually pretty snappy around the warehouse and anywhere the bifurcated would wear Jeans.

Some folks could turn out an entirely creditable kilt on the first try, but I ain't one of them. If mine get better each time, that is good enough for me. My goal is to be able to make them as a retirement hobby in thirteen years or so.

Learning sewing and kiltmaking at the same time, I am 100% behind starting with whatever cloth you can get cheap.

I am about to embark on my first traditional style kilt after reading "The Art of Kiltmaking". The first one will be self colored in Wal Mart cotton canvas.

My first hand sewn plaid will be from F&K remnant. At six dollars Canadian per yard plus shipping it is some high dollar cloth for me.

You wear kilts like this doing things you wouldn't want to trash a "real" kilt in. Oil change - lawn work - carpentry - cleaning the pool - dispatching vermin about the estate, etc.

I look at it like what passed for recruit training when I enlisted. First you learn to fold your skivvies.... A year and a half later you are on a flight deck with billions of dollars and many lives riding on your know how and application of said knowledge.

My kilts may be rough now, but check me out in a year or two.

If the pictured MacTablecloth was mine, it would probably only be worn formally, like Wal Mart or the Chinese Buffet after 1600. (that's four p.m. for all of you civillians) There are a few clueless individuals on the planet that would consider a fine Mactablecloth like this as merely daywear.

Some people......

Seriously - I dig it. Even when it turns out a product that is not ready for the runway, there is something very satisfying about making a garment for yourself. Like what you feel after some construction or fixing the car.

I am with W2f on this one. Besides, read some of the early writings about kilts. Worn by day, slept in by night.... No matter what this one looks like it will certainly smell better than the belted plaides of old.

[way2fractious]

...where do you wear it?

Throw on an unbleached cotton canvas kilt and head for the hills with your bike. This particular one now has creosote stains from tossing railroad ties around in my yard.


Just to liven up the party, wear a retro Spiro plaid kilt to kilt night... uhh, beer night... at your local microbrewery. (Most of the patrons won't notice you anyway. )


Burberry, ever-popular, even if it is cotton upholstery fabric. This one went up for auction at a fund-raiser.


Head for the outdoors in a cross between Southwest desert camo and a tribute to your Native American brothers. Took a little ribbing at a games - some guy elbowed his buddy and loudly said, "See, I told you there were clans south of the border," then to me, "Hey, are you clan MacNavajo?" Funny guy... (not)


Where else but Reno? A particularly enchanting and upscale Champs check blends nicely with the cowboy-themed wedding.



Need I keep going? Or !!

[cacunn]

I want to see how it is pleated. I could see the dark stripes in the folds and flashing as you walk.