left-handed kilt makers

[plaid preacher]

Well, it seems it is about to begin. Yesterday Barb T.'s book arrived in the mail, and I have been diligently reading on the history of plaid and now know all the mistakes I will one day make if I ever screw up the courage to attempt to make my own kilt. Here is my first of many stupid questions: are there challenges to trying to make a kilt as someone who approaches things from the "sinister" side of life? I note that Barb's instructions often say, things like sit with the fabric on your lap and catch the sewn pleats between your legs... or something like that. Can a lefty make a kilt... or all my pleats going to run in the opposite direction?

[The Wizard of BC]

After four Kilt Kamps with Barb I can attest that 'lefties' can indeed make a kilt. Each year there is at least one leftie in Kamp and Barb always asks me to show them how I sew left handed.

Think of it this way.

Imagine you are sitting in a chair facing a right handed kilt maker. Cross your knees and lay out your fabric exactly as they do. Think of the right handed kiltmake as a mirror in front of you.

The right handed kiltmaker has the pleats facing away from their body towards you.
Gather your fabric just as you would see it in a mirror.
The pleats face toward your body.

The right hander sews from the bottom of the fell on your left up to your right. Do exactly the same thing.

I've never uploaded the pics from Kilt Kamp 2012 where I am showing a leftie my technique. I'll see if I can find those when I get to the shop this morning.

Until then though, this kilt was completely hand stitched by a leftie.

[plaid preacher]

Thank you, Steve. I suspected that it was probably do-able; and we lefties are nothing if not adaptable living, as we do, it a right twist world. I'll keep reading the book.

[Father Bill]

Since the left half of the brain controls the right part of the body and the right half of the brain controls the left part of the body, only left-handed people are in their right minds!

from your right-handed friend!

[plaid preacher]

Thank you Bill. I have used line myself from time to time, but I'm just feeling a little more sinister than usual today.

[Lorna]

I learned to sew the pleats with my right hand. It felt really awkward at first but after 5 kilts I've gotten much faster. As lefties we already adapt to a right-handed world without much thought. Tho, I would recommend trying Steve's way first. Best of luck on your adventure!

[plaid preacher]

Thanks Lorna. In fact, I read along a little further in the TAotK this afternoon and came upon the note regarding lefties. Will have to see what works best, but I'm afraid I am a pretty committed lefty.

On a different note, can anyone tell me.. is the maple leaf tartan asymetrical? That is one of the tartans I had in mind for my first project.

[sydnie7]

Yes, the Maple Leaf is asymetrical.

[plaid preacher]

I thought so. Maybe not the first one to make then; unless I can get a single width. hmmm. I have two esoteric kilts in mind; maple leaf being the most common, Prince Edward Island being the other; and it is a large sett that uses up over half the alphabet to lay out the pleats. That one I think is best done to the stripe.