First Kilt for Hubby

[mom7tn]

Greetings All!, I have finally around to snapping pics and posting them for comments and criticismsI think! I have been a seamstress/tailor longer than I care to say but fashion has always eluded me! Now at least I can stick to one thing! Kilts and accouterments! Hubby and I have never been followers anyway. Now we know exactly where we are going if only fashion/non-fashion wise! Please keep in mind that I had never seen an actual kilt/mugg when creating this! I had searched, researched, enlarged online photos, studied, studied, studied then finally got brave enough to try it! Granted that was only because I was using $1 yard fabric from WallyWorld! I'm sure you can tell where most of the inspiration for this "Work" kilt came from. We are now looking to start a more traditional looking contemporary kilt and then I am told that we will be going all the way traditional once I have a bit more experience! He's going to buy me Barb's book and I can hardly wait for it to get here! The best part about all this is that he's become a lot more helpful around the house! I'll certainly take advantage of that!!!


This is the front 3/4 shot! Can't see the pockets that well but they have two layers and several smaller divisions for all his "stuff" like pipe and tobacco, cell phone, markers, flagging, etc. Then there are loops for pull tape, hammer and machete..


The rear shot. The pleats are two inch with a four inch return and are reverse kingussie style.


Here is the requisite "pleat spread" shot.


This is the zoo shot. Thank goodness we weren't near the monkey exhibit! Wait . . . the monkeys (all seven of them plus d-i-l and grandson) were walking around with us!!


Thanks in advance for any constructive criticism!!

[Captain Karrot]

Looks great to me! Very functional! Love the pockets and snaps. Very nice utility kilt!

[BobsYourUncle]

Great job! You have nothing to apologize for--the kilt is wonderful. You are obviously an accomplished crafter. Your husband wears it well. Kudos and other kinds of applause.

Cheers!

[ardchoille]

Constructive criticism? I can't think of anything because it looks awesome to me.. and I like the snaps. Good job!
What kind of material is this made from? I bought some cotton twill and made an X-Kilt but it's very stiff after ironing and I don't like the kilt I made from it.

[pdcorlis]

Holy Smokes - what a great job for a first kilt! Congratulations, and your husband is a very lucky man indeed!

[sydnie7]

Looks great! Where did you get the snaps, and how hard was it to put them on? I'm thinking snaps for my current project -- all advice gratefully accepted

Super job and looking forward to taking inspiration from your future work!

P.S. Cute hubby

[Jake_S]

I'll agree with all of the above! Great kilt, and a very ambitious design for your first attempt. IT turned out wonderfully.

Jake

[Rex_Tremende]

Wonderful job! I like how you tailored the pockets to suit his particular needs. Way to please the customer!

I'm curious - and maybe you've said and I missed it - but was the kilt your idea or his?

Regards,
Rex.

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

Fantastic!

[mom7tn]

I am very tickled at the positive reviews so far! I guess I would be considered a perfectionist and I look at all the mistakes and things I would like to have done better but after taking it apart 3 times (that blasted learning curve!) I decided to let it go (that decision was helped along by the fact that dear hubby was doing a "kilt dance" by the sewing machine hoping it would make it get done faster!).

I forgot to mention in my original post that my hubby posts here as KiltedSurveyor. He now does the laundry so as to make sure that his kilt gets washed to wear the next day! With six kiddoes at home that laundry job is a mountain so any help I get is, well I can't even begin to say how much that goes towards helping my mood later on in the evening!

Your husband wears it well. Kudos and other kinds of applause.

Cheers!

I always knew he would! He wears it to work every day that it is clean and ready. Just the other day he came in from the field to get some pipe tobacco in a very uppity part of Mid Tenn and a couple of young guys asked him just exactly what his "strange get-up" was and his comment was "What get-up?" then the cashier asked what the "special occasion" was (in a work kilt? Oh-well) and his reply was "work." He definitely has the attitude but then again I had no doubt. He has the swagger down pat! -- Sorry, just that wifely pride gushing out!

What kind of material is this made from? I bought some cotton twill and made an X-Kilt but it's very stiff after ironing and I don't like the kilt I made from it.

This material looked like cotton twill at the store and I bought the whole 14 yards available to have plenty to work with. It wasn't until I got home that I found out it was a stretch twill. It was a bit of a pain to work with but it turned out ok since the stretch actually ran waist to hem once the kilt was finished. It too was very stiff and a pain at first but after about 10 washings it is finally loosening up. It does have to be ironed and of course that does stiffen it up again but it continues to soften each time.

Looks great! Where did you get the snaps, and how hard was it to put them on? I'm thinking snaps for my current project -- all advice gratefully accepted

Super job and looking forward to taking inspiration from your future work!

P.S. Cute hubby

Well, Sydnie7, I will give you the secret source for my snaps if you promise not to private message my cute hubby! Actually the snaps came from Wal-Mart. We don't have any fabric stores close by and wanted to see how this would work before investing a lot of money and gas to travel for better materials. I think this was successful however he wants the next kilt to have buckles. Of course, another learning curve issue!!! Now that I think back I don't think I would use the snaps from WantMart. They just don't have enough "grip". I got some more at Joann's that seem as though they will do better. I am actually thinking of ordering some more commercial types online. PM if you want to look at some sites I found. As far as installation goes. The best thing for the apron snaps it to solidly pin the layers together, put a cutting board under the aprons (between kilt front and back) and punch holes in all layers at once. If this is not clear PM me and I will try to explain better.

Wonderful job! I like how you tailored the pockets to suit his particular needs. Way to please the customer!

I'm curious - and maybe you've said and I missed it - but was the kilt your idea or his?

Regards,
Rex.

Thanks Rex, yes I have pleased my customer to the point that I'm afraid he is going to hand cuff me . . . to the sewing machine! Actually since the beginning of our relationship he has always said he would wear one if it was socially acceptable. We just have been very behind the times and didn't know it was already acceptable. I had actually been searching the 'net for ideas for our daughter's Faerie birthday party. Well, you know that web effect. Somehow, maybe through something celtic . . . I came across Utilikilts and I couldn't wait for him to get home from work to show him! We were hooked. Started out liking the narrow aprons and all the chrome since he works on lots of construction sites but now we are being drawn to more traditional styles for after hours. So, yes I really like him in a kilt for just about every reason that has been listed here. I have finally decided what my reply will be if I am asked if I like him kilted.

Thanks again to all and I will post with the next one soon! Tomorrow if the KiltedSurveyor has his way!