Dream Kilt “Project: Excalibur”

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Since I had a few days off from work over the holidays, I thought I would get started on my dream kilt, 16oz, 7yard, MacArthur Modern. I have dubbed it “Project: Excalibur”.

Tonight’s bit of sewing was not going so well, instead of becoming frustrated, I thought I would put it away and post some pics of it in progress.

How the material arrived from Marton Mills:


The cutting process:
My Mum was visiting for Christmas and helped me cut it. She was thrilled to be able to help. She is a MacArthur. She wanted her children to carry on some piece of her family’s Scottish heritage and traditions, as they have been slowly dieing out through the years. So she was happy when I became interested in our history. She was the first one who supported my kilt making and wearing, even though I was a female kilt wearer.(She now knits me hose) It was neat for us to spend time together and bond. I don’t get to see her as much as I would like to because life keeps getting in the way.

How it started:


How it turned out:

(You will notice that Sporran..I mean Gary my sister’s cat, is making sure we followed Barb’s instructions. She (yes Gary is a girl) hates me except for when I am sewing at the table, then she sucks up to me..this is why I am a dog person!

After a good day of sewing:




Notes:
I love working with this material. It was worth its price per meter. I just wish I could sew straight!!

I’ll try to keep this updated..
Sara

[Bugbear]

Sounds completely cool. Hope it goes well and turns out exactly as you want it. Hmmm, I have six cats, I wonder how a cat fur sporran would look. Just joking.

[Arizona Scot]

Good luck on your endevour, hope it all turns out well. Be sure to keep us posted.

[Moosedog]

What a wonderful project! Keep us posted...

My mother is also visiting for the holidays. I hope to start on a new kilt with her, too, before she leaves, and have a bit of our clan tartan folded at the foot of her bed, so she sees it every morning when she wakes up. Hm, and she is knitting me hose. Are you sure we aren't related somehow?

Moosedog

[ChattanCat]

Sara,
Practice, Practice, Practice, then make a kilt. Unless you have already made a kilt before.
I practiced on making a kilt with some cheap wool that I picked up on ebay.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

The MacArthur will be my 5th knife pleated and 7th over all. I finished this one (MacNeil of Barra) for my St.Andrews Day lunch this November:





(It needs to be pressed again I think. I have wore it about 5 times recently and once in sleet)
I agree kilt making is something that must be practiced, and often. I think my almost month break is messing with my abilities to sew straight, but I'll get it back.(Or Die Trying!!)
Sara

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

What a wonderful project! Keep us posted...

My mother is also visiting for the holidays. I hope to start on a new kilt with her, too, before she leaves, and have a bit of our clan tartan folded at the foot of her bed, so she sees it every morning when she wakes up. Hm, and she is knitting me hose. Are you sure we aren't related somehow?

Moosedog

Hummm ya never know....
Sara

[pipesndrumsnun]

Hey, there, Clan Arthur cuz...
Lookin' good! A very exciting project!!

[Alan H]

Little story for you.

Once upon a time I got involved in some whacko web site for people who wear kilts. This project came up where the site was going to have its own tartan designed and woven up. I got involved in this project. When the time came to have the custom tartan delivered, three metres were heading my direction. I wrote to the professional kiltmaker that was coordinating this project...aka Steve Ashton of Freedom Kilts.... saying how excited I was to have the material for my first kilt coming my way.

His response?

OH, NO YOU DON'T. He told me to go find some cheap stuff and practice first. I was sure glad I did. That first hand-sewn took me 47 hours of work. It's hardly a masterpiece, though it's very wearable. After two years (more or less) it's still going strong, I wore it last night. However, I built three tartan kilts and four X-Kilts before I tackled my X-Marks-The-Scot tartan knife-pleat kilt. I'm glad I did, too.

You might try one on less costly material before really diving in, whole hog, on your really nice tartan material.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Ya, my first kilt took me 52 hours a year and a half ago, since then I have cut the rate down to 38 hours (That's what the MacNeil took me, of course work kept getting in the way) I am taking my time with this one. It always takes me 5 or six pleats to get back into the habit of sewing properly (of course I go and rip those ones out and all is right with the world again)
If I start to get frustrated I put it away.I am in no rush, the kilt is for me and I want it done correctly. All of the kilts I have made were leading up to this one. They have been all pleated the same way, the way I wanted this one to be pleated.
Thanks again for the advice.
Sara