Most recent kilts I've made (for myself)

[athensohkiltguy]

Hi folks,
I admit I've not participated much in the forum, but have learned a lot and had a great time reading comments and suggestions from many of you on different topics. What a great group of people!

Anyhow, I started making kilts later last fall, beginning with Barb and Elsie's phenomenal book and Matthew and Barb's box-pleated supplement. No sewing skills to begin with, so it's been a tough uphill road for me. My first couple of totally hand-sewn attempts seemed to impress other folks but I thought they were dismal, so you're not going to see those. I have gotten better at it, namely because my students have been willing guinea pigs for getting box-pleated kilts. I worked out a pattern for a casual 5-yard kilt later, and I've graduated to doing some 8-yarders as well. Still got lots of details I'm trying to work out for myself to improve the appearance; but for the most part I've been able to tailor every kilt (since the first 2) to fit right. NOTE: purists, don't read; I've given up on doing totally hand-sewn kilts and finally adapted patterns for all three styles to use machine sewing, mostly in areas that don't get seen on the outside. The rest is hand sewn (lots of basting, geez!) So, for what they're worth, here are three of the kilts I've made for myself most recently, box-pleated, 5-yard casual, and 8-yard formal. Finished 9 in total so far, working on 3 more at the moment.

Blah blah blah! It's a thoroughly engrossing hobby, man! I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Hope to have enough kilts by next summer (got 5 now, 4 I made) to go mostly pants-less at work and around town!

My recent box-pleated, in Argyll District (aka Campbell of Cawdor) Modern from House of Edgar


Here's the first 8-yarder I attempted, in Isle of Skye from Marton Mills; front view


Isle of Skye kilt; back view


Finally, one of the casual 5-yarders I worked out, in Spirit of Scotland from Marton Mills; front view (my head got in the way so I chopped it off )


Spirit of Scotland kilt; back view


As I said, I've got lots to work out in the details to improve on them. Thanks to incredibly patient people, I'm making baby steps in progress. Having fun with it, though!
Happy kilting folks, and Happy New Year

[Tartan Tess]

Very nice! It is a addicting hobby isn't it?
By the way, every June there is a week long kilt camp in Troy New York;
a great way to learn easier ways to hold the kilt while sewing and a million other little secrets.....

[Aspiringloser]

Looking good. What did you use as your center back pleat on the Isle of Skye? Did you have the kilt twisted for the photo?

[athensohkiltguy]

Re the Isle of Skye, I actually used the pale green vertical band as the center; yeah, I was wearing it a bit cockeyed that day, wasn't exactly centered on me though I set the pleating to have that directly in the back center.

Now, if my body was in better shape it might set off the kilts more nicely....

[Spartan Tartan]

You are definitely coming along. I can't see anything wrong with those! So, keep up the practice and I am sure you will easily obtain your goal of being kilted all summer long.

[Aspiringloser]

I couldn't tell if it was twisted or if something came out wrong during construction. You look to be in great shape to me.

[tulloch]

Well, you've every reason to smile. Great stuff! Thanks for showing it. It is inspiring.

[athensohkiltguy]

Hey again, Aspiringloser,
I hauled out the Isle of Skye and looked back at my kilting notes on that one; I did indeed have to put the white-striped pleat one off-center in back. Between the even pleat number, my big butt size, the tartan sett size and the recommended width range for the deep pleat on the left side of the apron, looks like I had to either choose to NOT center the front apron (not a good option), have a much too narrow or too wide deep pleat, or have the white strip off by one pleat. For better or worse I had to choose it being off center by one. Eagle eye!

Happily I've not had to make that choice in most of the others. But once you start looking for odd things in kilts, the errors or poor choices definitely start becoming obvious to the eye! Sigh. I'll keep trying!

[Aspiringloser]

Ahhh! Next time you have to go with an even number of pleats, consider splitting your center back pleat. For example, having the pleat edge splitting the white stripe. Lessons learned, I'm still learning myself.

[RAF]

Very nice! I especially like the box pleated one. I'm always impressed by the non-professional "attempts." For someone who started out with no sewing experience, I'd say you've done very well! Congrats to you.