My Tartan Skirts

[Pleater]

). I don't wish to be mistaken for wearing a kilt. I am 5'10'', so the Royal Stewart is supposed to go a bit longer, I think, for being off the rack. If I ever get to sewing these, I'm afraid I may never stop. .

I see someone has pointed out the right button to click (thank you tpa) - as a moderator I have a slightly different screen in order to exercise my powers, so I was not certain that I could accurately describe the way to edit a post for someone else. The moderators can edit posts, but it is something we do not do - as in 'Don't cross the beams'.

Personally I don't see any reason that a woman should not wear a kilt - as in the UK there is a strong tradition of woollen tweed and tartan garments for outdoorsey women in which kilts have featured - admittedly back in the day they were always always always 'of a decent length' which would have been 27 inches for a grown woman - half the 54inch width of the normally woven wool fabric. That was after the death of the Old Queen of course, as legs were to be kept decently covered in her reign.

Me, having grown up in the 60's and worn minis, of course I felt not a qualm in wearing a 24 inch length kilt, though I decided to go no shorter as it is some time since I had a waist not very much larger than that. I have some really good suede skirts from that time, too good to throw away, which would make decent sized handbags.

It is a very satisfying garment to sew, and I must confess that every time I turn up a length of quality material I think - 'is it long enough to make a kilt?' before considering it for any other purpose. I have a lot of fabric to sew up for kilts, all cut to size and set ready, but I have taken to sewing them mostly by hand and that takes time. There is just something so satisfying about sewing by hand -
I watched a film about Coco Chanel last night, and felt a real affinity for her at the point where she declares that the sewing machines were producing work 'not perfect enough' and changes to everything being hand sewn. I would lay money that the garments for the film were made on sewing machines, though. There are subtle differences between something sewn flat and sewn in the hand where it can be curved as it will be on the body.
I could never justify buying a couture garment - I find the prices for garments on the High Street shocking, if they are of any quality but the cheaper end of the market is just so dreadfully shoddy. To be able to create garments I could never justify purchasing, using mostly antique fabrics I could probably not afford to buy now, though with sundries from the recycle shop and buckles from my own and inherited work boxes - it is however, rather addictive, and I am not really certain of just how many kilts I have, nor how many potential ones, and there are those which require alteration or embellishment, so do be warned, once you start to work with quality fabrics it seems to be very difficult to show any restraint.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: