Update on Kilt Kamp 2009

[Barb T]

Steve, Matt, Kevin, and I have been talking about possible Kilt Kamp arrangements for summer 2009.

The people:
Steve Ashton (Freedom Kilts), Matt Newsome (Scottish Tartans Museum), Kevin Kinney (Empire Canvas Works), and me (Barb Tewksbury, The Art of Kiltmaking)

The program:
I would teach traditional kiltmaking (hand sewn, knife pleated). If Matt can come (not clear yet - he now has two jobs!), he would teach box pleat kiltmaking (again, hand sewn). If he cannot come, I would teach box pleat kiltmaking as well as knife pleat.

Steve would teach contemporary kiltmaking (machine sewn), and, if Kevin can come, he would teach a jacket workshop (part machine, part hand).

In order to do either Steve or Kevin's workshop, each participant would need to bring his/her own sewing machine.

The venue:
In order to keep the costs down, it really helps to have Kilt Kamp where one of the instructors doesn't need to travel. For those who don't know, we had Kilt Kamp at Steve's shop in Victoria, BC two years ago and at the Tartans Museum in Franklin, NC last year. All other things being equal, it would be great to move it around the country.

I'm offering Clinton, NY as a venue at a time either just after or just before the Central New York Scottish Games (a smallish but very pleasant Highland games), which will probably be Saturday, August 8, 2009. That way, people could go to the games as well as Kilt Kamp. Clinton is about 50 miles east of Syracuse, NY and is just south of the NYS Thruway.

Matt has also offered Franklin again, and Steve has offered Victoria again. Several other people have offered other places.

**If you are seriously interested**, please copy the following into either a post for this thread or into an email to me (please send me an email *not* a PM):

I am interested in the following workshop:
trad, knife-pleat:
trad, box-pleat:
contemporary kilt:
jacket:

For the latter two, could you bring a sewing machine?

I would come to the following venues (yes, maybe, or no):
Clinton, NY:
Franklin, NC:
Victoria, BC (Canada):

BTW - this doesn't mean we're not considering other venues, but the ones above would be the cheapest in terms of participant registration costs.

[sydnie7]

Whooo-eee!

I am interested in the following workshop:
trad, knife-pleat: YES
trad, box-pleat: YES YES
contemporary kilt: yes
jacket: not so much

For the latter two, could you bring a sewing machine? Yes, maybe even an extra for someone else to use

I would come to the following venues (yes, maybe, or no):
Clinton, NY: maybe
Franklin, NC: yes
Victoria, BC (Canada): YES

[Aldisimo]

Although I can't make a firm commitment this early ...

I am interested in the following workshop:
trad, knife-pleat: yes
trad, box-pleat: yes
contemporary kilt: yes
jacket: no

For the latter two, could you bring a sewing machine? More likely to try buying/renting one after arriving ... I would not trust an airline to look after my vintage Bernina!

I would come to the following venues (yes, maybe, or no):
Clinton, NY: yes
Franklin, NC: yes
Victoria, BC (Canada): yes

[Splash_4]

My turn;

I am interested in the following workshop:
trad, knife-pleat: Yes
trad, box-pleat: Yes
contemporary kilt: No
jacket: No

For the latter two, could you bring a sewing machine? Nope

I would come to the following venues (yes, maybe, or no):
Clinton, NY: Yes
Franklin, NC: Yes
Victoria, BC (Canada): To Invade Steve's shop, Certainly.

[sathor]

I am thinking of asking for a sewing machine for xmas, they have one at walmart for just under 100, can't go too high end on a first sewing machine..

[sydnie7]

I am thinking of asking for a sewing machine for xmas, they have one at walmart for just under 100, can't go too high end on a first sewing machine..

I wouldn't go too cheaply, either. Nothing worse than trying to do a job with an ineffective tool. Amazon also carries a range of machines (typically with free shipping if you make sure you're buying from Amazon and not an outside store). Good discounts off suggested retail price. Their user reviews are pretty helpful for judging ease of use, initial quality, etc.

[Barb T]

I am thinking of asking for a sewing machine for xmas, they have one at walmart for just under 100, can't go too high end on a first sewing machine..

Better off buying a used higher quality machine.

[sathor]

Better off buying a used higher quality machine.

I don't like asking for used things as gifts, bad history on that, but I know if I mentioned it to my mom, I would wind up with one of those useless hand held machines.

[The Wizard of BC]

I don't want to hijack this thread or take it off topic of Kilt Kamp but my advice about sewing machines may help you.

If your plan is to make just one Kilt, and you don't have a sewing machine then try hand stitching a Traditional Kilt.

A sewing machine suitable for Contemporary Kilts is a rather specialized machine. Yes, it can be done on a home singer but the frustration of trying to make a machine do something it was not designed to do is not worth the expense and in the end will sour you so much that you may never make another.

Almost all home machines designed and sold since the late '80's have been designed for quilting, small repair jobs, and to dress up plain clothes with fancy stitchings. Most of them simply cannot handle the thickness of material that is required for Contemporary Kiltmaking.

It's not the power of the motor. It is the height of the pressure foot. A machine salesperson will show you that the machine will sew through two or three layers of leather and tell you it has the power but when you try to fit 18 or 22 layers of 12 oz Poly/Cotton under the pressure foot you simply can't do it.

My advice would be to find a pair of newer "Dockers" trousers and take them to your local Sewing Machine Shop. Put both cuffs together at the hem and then fold them double. This will give you approx. 12 layers of fabric. Then ask the sales person to to show you how to sew all the cuffs together right over the side seams. When you hit the Side Seams you will be simulating the sewing of a waistband onto a Kilt and hitting the Beltloops.

If you can do this and control the fabric, without breaking a needle or the thread then you have found a suitable machine.

It will be an older straight stitch machine with a simple 1/4" to 3/8" (4 to 6 mm) zigzag. It will be able to take no. 16 or 18 ball point needles. It will have a reverse. It will preferably have a knee lift lever to allow you to keep both hands on the fabric while you lift the pressure foot.

What you will find is that what I have just described is a 20+ year old Bernina, White or Janome machine. When you find it ask the retail person if you can talk to the repair person. Before you buy the machine ask the repair person if the machine pressure foot height can be adjusted, and if they can adjust the feed dog feet and timing on the machine.

The machine will cost you about $100.00 to $300.00 and then there will be a charge for the repair person to check the timing of about an additional $100.00 to $150.00.

If you bring that machine to Kilt Kamp I'll show you how to sew a Kilt with it.

If you have any other questions you can PM me or send me an e-mail and I'll help in any other way I can.

[sydnie7]

[snip]If you bring that machine to Kilt Kamp I'll show you how to sew a Kilt with it.

Still a slight hijack but it's connected to Kamp, and the prospect of presenting a Contemporary Kilt seminar.

How would one transport this type of machine from, say, San Diego to BC or NY or NC? Short of a shipping crate or U-Haul. . .

I respect your advice and have looked at such machines (haven't found the right one yet). But bringing one to KKamp seems impractical, from what I've seen -- they tend to be built into permanent pieces of furniture / shop tables.

A portable machine might not be able to completely finish the job at KK but at least I could get it there on an airplane.