First Kilt, homemade...

**CMcG** · 19th September 11, 01:36 AM

Looks pretty good, but especially so if that is your first crack at it! Where did you learn to sew?

Seeing as you asked, I have two thoughts. The first is that a leather sporran strap will save wear and tear on your kilt from the metal chain you are wearing in the pic. The second is that you might try lowering the top of your hose cuff and/ or wearing your kilt a bit higher on your hips. I'm not seeing much knees, which would give a nice visual break between kilt and hose, as well as being more traditional.

**Sgt Lucky** · 19th September 11, 07:56 AM

Thanks!

Picked up the very basic skills sitting at home with grandma as a kid, but since then took a few night classes at FIT while still in the Marines (signing off on that tuition assistance form kind of confused my CO) and then fooled around with some books on tailoring traditional menswear. For the kilt though, Bobbie Suttie's tutorial was an excellent starter (http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html).

I see what you're saying about yanking that kilt up a little bit - my biggest problem was ending up with the waist too wide, probably contributing to a bit of sag. Measured it all beforehand but there must be some kind of Murphy's Law about ending up with larger measurements than when you started - might need to make a few more adjustments. As to the strap, I definitely don't want to wear this puppy down for a long time yet - but the part in back is leather, which is where I'd assume most of the wear-n-tear comes from. In your experience does chain tend to wear much on the front apron as worn in the pics?

**CMcG** · 19th September 11, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt Lucky

<snip> As to the strap, I definitely don't want to wear this puppy down for a long time yet - but the part in back is leather, which is where I'd assume most of the wear-n-tear comes from. In your experience does chain tend to wear much on the front apron as worn in the pics?

Someone posted pics a while back but the wear seemed to be a little bit everywhere. The worst appeared on the hips if I recall correctly. I only wear a chain for formal events now...