Kiltmaking using Harris Tweed: rip or cut double width?

[Todd Bradshaw]

Barb made my tweed kilt from a piece of 15 oz. wool tweed that I bought from Marton Mills. This one had a clean looking edge, but some sort of silver "guide" thread running along about 1" in from the edge. Some of their tweeds have it, others do not. It couldn't be removed, so we decided that the best way to hide it was by hemming the kilt. As far as I can tell, it doesn't seem to make much difference in the way the kilt hangs, swings or feels. Tweed fabric is not as hard or flat as tartan, but not so bulky as to be a problem. When worn, it seems to feel pretty similar to those made from heavyweight Dalgliesh tartan.

My wife made me a matching waistcoat (tweed front and back). I also bought a small roll of brown, Barbour-style waxed cotton a while back, and another hunk of a brown wool tweed overcheck, with the intention of making myself a waxed cotton Inverness cape to go with the kilt and vest.

In the past, I have often had no luck posting photos on this particular forum, so I'll try it and also post direct links to the photos in my Dropbox folder if it seems like they don't work.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/70e5kskrbm...kilt1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2kmsnkrqm69l8m7/tk2a.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rtw3c7uulq7iisd/tk3a.jpg?dl=0