Dutch Friendship Tartan tank/kilt by Bonnie Heather Greene, this one's for papa

[ForresterModern]

As described in other threads Ron and I sourced some DFT fabric directly from the shop owners after much effort and some translations, with Ron's kilt making it to the show first via Kathy Lare, my son Carter's versatile child's kilt next via Bonnie Heather Greene, and now mine, also by Bonnie. She took all the typical great care and attention to detail and built another beauty for my less than beautiful body shape (better described as out of shape or bowling pin shape). Either way the result is another extremely well made handsewn 8+ yard tank in 16 oz Lochcarron Strome in Dutch Friendship Tartan, a tartan chosen to honor both my wife's heritage (first generation Dutch American of full blooded Dutch parents) and my own surname origins (Counts of Flanders by reports).

Bonnie used 8.2+ yards of tartan to build this beauty (a little over 40 repeats of the 7 3/8" sett repeat at the selvedge edge of the kilt) not including any extra needed for fringes and waistband, etc.. Considering my height and need for a 26" total drop from tartan only 140cm wide (each split half would only be 27.5" wide as single width) it probably took a bit more than 8.2 yds to make this baby. It is hard to describe invisible stitching as beautiful, but that is what the fell looks like, well matched pleated to sett, with 26 pleats plus on reverse, each 3.25-3.5 inches deep with a 1" reveal. Well tapered aprons and the usual touches to the bottom edge of the underapron and reverse pleat, along with solid and smooth black lining, and three straps and buckles rounds out the build. Fit like a glove when I strapped her on for the first time. Came with 4 full rows of basting stitches, the selvedge edge being doubled at that---took me ten anxious minutes to get those out so I could wear it to work last Saturday, and get these pictures taken as below. Bonnie was her usual communicative and pleasant self, very easy to work with from start to finish. And the overall price, especially considering the high level of workmanship (my wife was impressed) was, well let's just say it was more than reasonable. Another wearable work of art.



As it arrived, only a smidgen wrinkled at the top of the fell from folding during transit. That bottom level of basting would have worked for a straight jacket I think. The pictures below show me wearing it after a full day at work, unfortunately with the belt a little too tight in order to hold up the pager, two cell phones, and other additional stuff I needed to carry for work (practically a "bat belt"), that I should have stripped off to let the full beauty of the kilt build show. Another lesson learned by me for future photo ops.








Carter was so escited he wanted to go put on his DFT and get in on the picture fun with papa.




So two happy kilted campers in matching Dutch Friendship Tartan kilts made by Bonnie Heather Greene, to match Mama's DFT pattern silk scarf. We can go out as a family and demonstrate our Dutch pride in spades. And to the best of our knowledge only the fourth DFT kilt in North America, after Robert Pel (Cannuck), Ron (Riverkilt), Carter (heretofore known as "the boy"), and now mine.

Thanks again Bonnie for all your efforts and labors, the results of which are displayed here.


jeff