Questions about making your own kilt.

[Gunnar]

I found this on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ksid=p3907.m29) and I really like this tartan so I starded wondering......how hard is it to make your own kilt?
And what materials do I need....I know I need this fabric and of course Barb's book but ...what else?

[Packhound]

Gunnar,

The only other things you will need will be hair canvas (for a knife-pleated kilt) thread, and fabric for the lining. And some patience. You can do it if I can.
Good luck on your venture and please post pics.

[Pleater]

I bought some heavier cloth from the same mill and it is lovely stuff.

For a standard kilt - there will be the canvas for strengthening the fell plus the lining to cover it, the straps and buckles to fasten it, however many and how is your choice, and that is about it other than the thread and needle for hand sewing or the sewing machine.

The details will all be in 'The Book', but I believe that the proper hair canvas is not easy to come by, though someone might be able to assist in finding it - I make unstructured kilts so have no need to reinforce anything.

Anne the Pleater

[Southern Breeze]

Add patience to the list. Take your time. Don't hesitate to post questions. Good luck on your venture!

[Carolina Kiltman]

Add patience to the list. Take your time. Don't hesitate to post questions. Good luck on your venture!

Also be prepared to undo a lot of stitches to correct mistakes. Whenever you see it, it is much better to do it then than to wait until later. We all made a lot of errors at first, fewer the second time around, and so on as skill improves.

Just remember to post pictures.

Good Luck! and Happy sewing!

[Tetley]

I've just bought three lots of cloth from this very supplier, Dress Erskine, Dress Stewart and The Armstrong Ancient in order to make kilt. the fabric is very nice and I'm glad I bought it.

I'm currently making the Erskine into a kilt and so far it's going well.

As for what you need, the "Book" has a list of ingredients (), but nothing difficult to get.

[ardchoille]

My advice is to get yourself a copy of Barb's book, it tells you everything you'll need to know and what you need to buy.. along with contact information. I went ahead and bought some things and found out, after I got the book, that I had bought the wrong items and/or don't need a few of the things I thought I needed.

[ChattanCat]

Ok, Here is what I use when kilting:
Needle, sharps, get a combination pack to determine which size works for you.
Thread - get thread to match every color, guetermann thread is what I use, 100% polyester.
Wax - beeswax
Sissors - nice pair of sharp ~ 8" long
Buckles and straps. If you want a US supplier, PM me.
Carpet thread - black usually works (guetermann heavy duty thread, 3 ply)
Ott Light - you want your kilt to look good in sunlight and Ott light is a good full spectrum light.
Hair canvas - I use Vogue
Basting thead - 1 spool, cotton will work, or anything cheap
One really good, strong pin to pin the top of each pleate
Tailors chalk - dust off
Tailors tape - so you can loop it around your neck and look like a tailor

I'm sure there is more...

[ChattanCat]

Oh, forgot the thimble.

[Alan H]

Just my two cents....get some inexpensive material and make a practice kilt, first, before making the "real deal". In fact,

a. make an X-Kilt
b. make a machine-sewn tartan kilt
c. make the "tank"