I use a sewing machine in only three places on a kilt, and I think all three are perfectly legitimate. If a kilt needs a hem, I can't see any reason not to use a blind hemmer. If the bottom edge of the lining apron/underapron needs to be hemmed because it has a raw edge, I'm perfectly happy to do that little hem on the machine. And, if I'm home, I'll sew the main seam of the top band by machine to save time. If I'm away, I'll do it by hand. There really isn't much of anywhere else in a kilt that you can use a machine to do a proper job, though.

Cheers,

Barb