Basting for the clumsy ones

[cryptoman]

Hello folks, I need clarification to the clarification. This thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-pleats-76951/
is very informative but leaves me behind puzzled.

Obviously you need a constant thread, but after a few pleats, it becomes tricky to not stress the fabric in order to keep the yarn unwind itself. Do I have to unwind 6m in advance? I got sewn down pleats, so I don't know how to overlap 4 layers of fabric. Do I have to turn the kilt upside down and start from the inside? Does someone got experience in basting a Sport Kilt? I don't want to screw things up. That's my 5th try.

[sydnie7]

Don't worry about a "constant thread." The important part is lining up the pleats the way you want to press them, and taking a few large (approx 1/2 to one inch) stitches to hold them in place. You could use a new piece of thread for each pleat if you wanted. . . just take a few stitches close together to "lock" the stitching in place at each end of the piece of thread.

I work with about 24 inches of thread at a time but that's just personal preference / comfort zone for how far I want to have to pull the thread with each stitch. And you can start with the thread doubled almost all the way, undoubling a bit at a time so your stitches are done with a single thickness of thread. That way your effect length of thread is not too long to comfortably pull through, but you also aren't having to cut a new piece of thread every few minutes.