Traditional, hand-sewn kilt, finally!

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

A couple years back, I was graciously given a copy of The Art of Kiltmaking (thank you, Colin!), on the condition that when I finally used it (rather than just reading it over and over again and feeling overwhelmed) I would share the experience.

I finally got around to it.

Let me tell you, I am now a convert to all the advantages of a hand-sewn, custom made kilt.

But I also understand first hand why they are so expensive. If I charged by the hour, this kilt I just finished for my son would be worth about $2000.00.

I did NOT do a step-by-step pictorial of this project, because that would have just added more time to the project. If you want a tutorial, buy the book, I understand there's a new edition out!



Here is my only "in progress" picture, about 40 hours in (sewing in the lining, and, yes, the Martini is an essential part of the process):







To follow are pictures of the finished kilt and its first day of use. It was made from a length of fabric given to me by AlanH. The rest of this fabric went into making a kilt for The Black Knight which he wore to our Burn's Supper this year. This fabric is not wool (probably polyviscose), and is not even technically tartan (as the warp and weft patterns are not the same). In fact, the width of the black stripes varied from one end of the fabric to the other (compare the apron and underapron), which I didn't realize until I was preparing the waistband! It was bought from the bargain table at Jo Ann's Fabrics for very little money, which is what gave me the guts to actually experiment on it.



The outside of the kilt and the marvelous book that makes it possible. I put nylon straps and plastic buckles on this, because it's designed to be a "run about and get messy" kind of kilt:



The inside of the kilt:



Yes, it's pleated in the infamous "lawn chair" pattern, but I happen to love the way it opens up to the lighter pattern when the boy moves. And move he did today. The first thing her did when he put it on was to yell, "Yippee! It's not wool!". He has inherited the allergy, unfortunately.

First, though, we tried to get some formal pictures. Unfortunately, he'd already been racing about, so the kilt isn't very well centered in these shots.

Apron view:



Pleat shot:



Unfortunately, all I can see when I look at these pictures are the errors, but Sinbad is very happy with it-he says it's the most comfortable kilt he's ever worn, and I'm not sure I'll be able to get it off of him for bed tonight.

Let me tell you all something. Making a kilt for a 8, going on 9, year-old boy is like shooting at a moving target. In the two months it took me to make this (yes, it took two months of my spare time), he's already pretty much outgrown it.

More pictures (fun ones!) to come...

Be well,