Starting on my first kilt

**Schultz** · 3rd January 06, 11:33 AM

A few months ago I bought Barb's book with the intention that one day, when funds became more available, I'd buy some PV and make my own kilt because I've always enjoyed making my own things, at least once.

This past weekend I was at the Pa. Fabric Outlet outside of Baltimore and found a bolt of 16 oz. wool Stuart of Bule tartan for $9.98/yd. I could NOT pass this up so I bought 5 yards of it, even though it didn't have a decent kilting selvedge, as the picture below shows:

It goes from a twill weave to a plain weave right at the end, then frays off.

Now Barb's book has instructions for putting a hem in a kilt, but would a hem with a 16oz. cloth look clunky? Would it be better to get someone (ie. local seamstress) to serge the ends (if that's possible)? Would serging even be possible/worth it?

**Southern Breeze** · 3rd January 06, 12:18 PM

Hemming isn't necessary. What you do is use leave the selvedged edge and take material from the top. Look on page 53 of the book,the section on marking the length.

**haukehaien** · 3rd January 06, 01:09 PM

I think the OP's point is that the fabric doesn't have a selvedge edge.

You could try making a selvedge; run a line of stitches along just inside the plain weave, then cut that part off. I have no idea how well that would work on this fabric, but I've seen it done before.

**mddock58** · 3rd January 06, 01:15 PM

You can Zig-zag or serge the edge to prevent the fraying, but you need to pay attention to the tension. Also you want to find a thread that will not show terribly.

That should be enough, and then if you choose to hem, you can still do it as well.

**Alan H** · 3rd January 06, 01:57 PM

16 ounce polyester-viscose? Are you SURE it's that heavy?

Personally, I'd just hem it. Do it by hand of course, so that you can hide the stitches.

**Schultz** · 3rd January 06, 02:09 PM

16 ounce polyester-viscose? Are you SURE it's that heavy?

Oops, guess I wasn't clear in my origina post. This isn't PV, but actual 16 oz. wool.

**kiltedjaz** · 3rd April 06, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Schultz

Stuart of Bule tartan

Just a wee correction .....The tartan is Stuart of BUTE.

The use of this tartan is normally considered to be confined to the family from whom it derives its title, though others more or less closely related have likewise claimed an interest. Whether or not the pattern was in use before the publication of the Vestiarium Scoticum, has never been ascertained. It is often seen in maroon but the change from red does not have the approval of the Marquis of Bute. Stuarts of Bute are descended from the natural son of King Robert II. The 'hunting' version is the same sett but using a maroon shade as opposed to red / scarlet.

http://www.mountstuart.com/

**Schultz** · 3rd April 06, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by kiltedjaz

Just a wee correction .....The tartan is Stuart of BUTE.

The use of this tartan is normally considered to be confined to the family from whom it derives its title, though others more or less closely related have likewise claimed an interest. Whether or not the pattern was in use before the publication of the Vestiarium Scoticum, has never been ascertained. It is often seen in maroon but the change from red does not have the approval of the Marquis of Bute. Stuarts of Bute are descended from the natural son of King Robert II. The 'hunting' version is the same sett but using a maroon shade as opposed to red / scarlet.

http://www.mountstuart.com/

Ooops! I guess I did type "Bule" in!

After buying it, I did do some research on it and found that it is, more or less, confined to the family. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some heavy tartan wool at that price! I do believe this is the "Hunting" version, as it's definitely maroon and not scarlet.