Okay we have made our peace with the $98.00 machine from JoAnnes and are on our second attempt at a casual kilt.

From the first outing, deeper pleats (or box pleats), longer fell, shorter hem were among the suggestions. Mrs. likes knife pleats, but a box pleater is coming soon.

THIS AIN"T NO HOW TO GUIDE!! I am posting some pics and eager to hear if anyone has any idea of how to do it better.

first this dog made pleats with two pieces of cardboard and pressed them out

http://www.doublebad.net/pleating.JPG

then I pinned them down

http://www.doublebad.net/pin2.JPG

Because we really wanted these pleats to be better than my first attempt I turned them over and pinned the traditional everloving Scottish wamboozle out of them

http://www.doublebad.net/pinned.JPG

Then I stitched them down and made the fell 8 inches (last time I included the height of the waistband in the fell) I also used deeper pleats and the pleats are 21.5 drop instead of 22.0.

I made the under apron in a trapezoid shape and attached it just ahead of the first pleat on the right hip. I made the right side of the over apron A shaped and made the trailing side trapezoid. I went for fringe, we shall see.

http://www.doublebad.net/layout.JPG

Next a strip 7 inches wide was cut and turned it inside out and hemmed it one half inch in. After inverting it we look to have a three inch waistband.

http://www.doublebad.net/waistband.JPG

I am pinning it down to be sewn now. Piinned it last night for fitting and this morning it appears to have curled a bit showing the seam.

The goal is to end up with something we can wear to work. Actually the first kilt (lawnmower kilt) has been worn there a couple of times.

But lawnmower's pocket is a highly functional and visually offensive thing to behold. Looks like this one might end up with pockets. Seriously considering the cargo pockets from the Xmarks instructions.

more to come......