Sarong?

**HarveyH** · 24th August 13, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by mookien

In case the kilt still has its basting stitches (a picture would help us), be careful and be gentle in removing them. But, it is easy to do. They are secured by knots at each end which, if you are careful, are easy to "unravel". I use tweezers to do the unraveling at one of the ends (your choice). Then, gently grasp the thread and simply pull on it to remove all the intervening stitches. When you reach the other end (and the knots there), simply unravel them. There will likely be more than one line of basting stitches, so you will have to do the above more than once. Good luck and post a pic - before and after would be great.

I read this with surprise.

Different makers baste in different ways. My own maker never knots the thread becuase a pull on a knot could damage the cloth. He also uses a holding stitch rather than a running stitch because he wants the pleats held in place securely. See pic (with thanks to Paul Henry).basting-001.jpg

Equally, whilst pulling a running stitch carefully should be ok, you do stand a significant risk of cloth threads being pulled and damaging the finish. When sewing the basting in you can sew through individual threads of the cloth (this is perfectly normal). Pulling a length of thread through such a stitch can abrade the thread itself. I have heard of people doing this to save the thread, but frankly a couple of yards of cheap basting thread is not worth saving by comparison to the cost of a kilt. Using a stitch ripper or (carefully) scissors and snipping through each baste and then removing is much safer for the kilt.

But of course this does not help our Robgiv and his swing...

**tundramanq** · 24th August 13, 07:53 AM

Checking swish and waggle.
Just walk away from the sun in the morning or late afternoon and watch the kilts shadow.
I don't feel my USA PV Casuals with light and few pleats. The shadow check assures me all is well!

**andycwb** · 24th August 13, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by HarveyH

Using a stitch ripper or (carefully) scissors and snipping through each baste and then removing is much safer for the kilt.

Having not read any other advice on this that's what I did. I used the scissors because I knew I wouldn't pull the threads at all that way. What I noticed is the line where they basting stitches were removed was invisible at the time, quite noticeable a few days later, and has become less visible again over time.

Originally Posted by HarveyH

But of course this does not help our Robgiv and his swing...

And now to return to the main thread of this evening's symposium, as Tom Lehrer might have put it.

**Riverkilt** · 24th August 13, 09:10 AM

Can't help but wonder how much the chosen wool fabric may contribute to this. Seems to me some of my wool kilt's fabric isn't quite as swishy as others....

AND....don't forget to put a little hip action into your walk....

**mookien** · 24th August 13, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by HarveyH

... Different makers baste in different ways. My own maker never knots the thread becuase a pull on a knot could damage the cloth. He also uses a holding stitch rather than a running stitch because he wants the pleats held in place securely. ...

Equally, whilst pulling a running stitch carefully should be ok, you do stand a significant risk of cloth threads being pulled and damaging the finish. When sewing the basting in you can sew through individual threads of the cloth (this is perfectly normal). Pulling a length of thread through such a stitch can abrade the thread itself. I have heard of people doing this to save the thread, but frankly a couple of yards of cheap basting thread is not worth saving by comparison to the cost of a kilt. Using a stitch ripper or (carefully) scissors and snipping through each baste and then removing is much safer for the kilt.

Harvey: I wrote from experience, not expertise. Every kilt I own (12 of them) was basted in the way I described, and they were made by a variety of reputable kilt makers. I have never experienced damage, or any perceivable disruption, to the wool threads of the kilt as the basting thread was "gently" pulled to its remaining "tied" end. I cared "knot" about the basting thread itself and simply discarded it.

Perhaps I should have quoted the word 'knots' in my original comment and/or stated that they are not really knots in the usual sense, but simply places where the thread passes under previous stitches to hold the ends in place. I chose not to do so, because that is, or at least should be, obvious under examination as the owner begins the removal process. Finally, for me snipping through each stitch wold not be worth the time. Life is too short.

John

**McElmurry** · 24th August 13, 11:27 AM

The swish of the kilt (oscillation of kilt pleats orthogonal to the plane of symmetry of the kiltie) can be modeled as a single degree of freedom system similar to a pendulum. Low yardage kilts made from light weight materials will act as a ping pong ball attached to fishing line. They begin to move at the slightest perturbation and the lateral movement can be easily disturbed by the forward movement of the kiltie. This creates the floating behavior described in a previous post.

A high yardage high weight kilt (tank) is more akin to a bowling ball suspended from a stiff cable. It takes more force to get it moving. In order to generate a strong lateral oscillation it is necessary to provide an excitation force at the natural frequency of the kilt. Once the natural frequency is achieved maintaining the cadence produces a particularly satisfying swish.

I first experienced this phenomenon hiking down a moderate slope at a good clip. The swish at the natural frequency of my tank was so pronounced it literally swished my boxers down. I had to excuse myself from the hiking group claiming the call of nature and duck behind a tree for a readjustment while the offending article of clothing was still above the selvedge. For the rest of the day I avoided sustained movement at the kilts natural frequency.

I am convince this is the reason kilted military units routinely went regimental. They just didn't have the technology at the time to construct undergarments that could withstand the swish generated by a brisk march in a heavy military kilt. Luckily we now have Lycra.

You may not have heard the story of the young recruit reassigned to a kilted unit. Being new to kilts he didn't understand the reasoning behind the regulations and decided to buck the rules and wear boxers. Off he went with his unit on a brisk march and soon he became aware his boxers were working their way down with each mighty swish of his kilt. Eventually his boxers past below the widest point of his buttocks. You can imagine his consternation. He couldn't very well break ranks but he feared he was heading for disaster. Before he could make a decision gravity intervened, the boxers dropped to his ankles, and the unfortunate lad fell. If he had only paid more attention in physics class he would have foreseen the dangers of exciting an oscillating system at the natural frequency.

By the way, the story of the lad who fell is the reason the portion of the kilt pleat that is sewn down is called the fell. Not very many people know that. Also, the widest part of the fell is know as the fall line, because if the waistband of your undergarment gets swished below this line you are headed for a fall.

Next week we will discuss the magnetic field generated by an oscillating kilt and the influence of this magnetic field on the brainwaves of individuals susceptible to this phenomenon.

**MacLowlife** · 3rd September 13, 05:24 PM

Very well played McElmurray. It reminded me of this engineeering classic : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...s_Evening_Gown

Now that we have established that everyone's instincts were correct and RobGiv DID know to take the basting out, I think the next best idea is to have somone videotape him from behind. How soon before we can post videos, Mods?

**Steve Ashton** · 4th September 13, 10:03 AM

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Everyone may post photos and videos. There is no limitation on new members and no restrictions on who may or may not insert a video link into their posts.