Which Dancer's Tartan to Choose?

[Celtic Mom]

Hello,

I am about to order some tartan for a dancer's kilt for my daughter. This will be my first kilt making experience, and am wondering if there is one tartan that would be better (ahem, easier) for a first time kilt maker to use. I have been looking at D.C. Dalgliesh's website and have been considering several. #1 Allendale Dress, #2Aviemore Dress,#3 Cunningham Dress, or #4 Menzies Dress. I hope the pictures come through, any suggestions?

Thank you!
Carrie

[Lorna]

The more simple the tartan, the easier it should be to pleat to the sett which is how most dancer's kilts are pleated. Myself, I would pick number 3 for ease of pleating and it has a lot of white. Judges love a lot of white in a dancers kilt as it shows up better on stage. Best of luck.

[creagdhubh]

What about the various tartans in the Macpherson dress? This is a very popular choice of tartan for dancers.

[Aspiringloser]

#3 would be the easiest to pleat of the four that you've listed.

[Celtic Mom]

Thank you! If anyone has done dancer's kilts that has a suggestion not listed, I would love to hear it. I am just going on the desires of my seven year old daughter whose desires run toward pink and purple.

I have The Art of Kiltmaking, and have been studying the book, and am inclined to purchase 5 yards and have one piece rather than purchase the 2.5 yards and have to join the pieces. Does anyone have recommendations in that regard?

Carrie

[Aspiringloser]

If it is woven in single width then buy 5 yards. If it is woven in double width, then buy 2.5 or 3 yards and make the join. If you buy 5 yards of double width and are only making a 5 yard kilt, you'll be wasting half of the fabric. You could always do it this way and make two kilts if you wanted. Joining the fabric is not hard to do and it will be inside a pleat so you won't see it.

[Dixiecat]

Actually, #4 is the easiest to pleat.

Practically all dance tartans are double-width so you'll need to order based on that. Also, keep in mind that just because you order enough for a 5yd kilt, the final kilt probably won't have that much yardage. Depends on where the tartan starts on the end of the cloth and which stripe you chose as the center and where the tartan lies when joining. If you want 5 yards in the kilt, order another 1/2yd.

At 7yrs old, don't bother putting in growth pleats, but do consider a hem. I've not met a dancer yet who's used the growth pleat, but almost every dancer has let down hems.

[Tartan Tess]

If you are going to make the kilt yourself joining the pieces will
be a piece of cake after your done with the pleating.

[xman]

They're all lovely. I think the Gold sets off the Teal nicely in the Allendale.

[Celtic Mom]

Thanks everyone! I took a deep breath and clicked the "Order" button today!