Canvas Kilt, ACK!!!!

[Southern Breeze]

Robert, I agree that there are instructions on the web and other resources that one can take advantage of, but both you and Steve took the time respond to his question and offer some great advice, and education to the rest of us. I find that laudable. While I do not know the craft of kiltmaking, I am a better than average tailor and from looking at my SK, a casual kilt looks to be a fairly simple garment to put together, MUCH easier than a pair of trousers or even a dress shirt. That does not mean to imply that it takes a needle some thread and 20 minutes, but that the kilt is created from a single piece of cloth with no seams, and getting the pleats and apron correctly sized and arranged appears to be the biggest hurdle.

If I am incorrect, let me know. I have not attempted a kilt yet, but with the wife glaring every time I want to buy another (and I only have 2, so getting another is going to be an issue for quite a while) maybe I should put my money where my mouth is and make my next quilt. Any suggestions from anyone? I have heard Barb's book mentioned, but not sure what that is or where to get it? I would be willing to entertain ideas for a contemporary, solid color kilt to be used for business casual work or informal social occasions, similar to a pair of khaki dockers or the like.

RJI

The name of the book is The Art Kiltmaking.http//www.celticdragonpress.com.
The price is 29.95 US.Worth every penny!

[chasem]

Barb's book is fantastic! I'm finishing up my first kilt following the book now, and while it's not perfect, I'm satisfied with my work so far.

I'm using the Hunting Stewart from here which is not the best material for it, but it wasn't bad for the price, for a first attempt.

Now I just need to get some 16oz MacEwen tartan

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Robert, Southern Breeze, and Chasem,

Thanks for the responses. I will check out getting a copy of Barb's book tomorrow.

Robert, I have been looking over your site, and maybe my third paycheck of this month needs to go toward an rkilt! I am checking out the finances and will let you know.

RJI (KCW)

[The Wizard of BC]

Just remember that Barb's book is about the art of TRADITIONAL kilts.
The are of Contemporary kilts is another whole animal.
Unfortunatly everyone will have to wait till next year before the difinitive work
"The Art of Contemporary Kilts" is published.
It will cover modern fabrics, pockets, machine sewing, and the design features of the contemporary styles.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Steve,

Glad to hear it and I look forward to it.

RJI

[bubba]

Steve, I'll be waiting for your book.

[Andrew Breecher]

I know that canvas is supposed to be a bit stiff, but sheesh!!! Any suggestions of how to lighten this thing up?? Hopefully it'll soften up a bit after I wash it a couple of times (I washed the material once and machine-dried it before working on it) I understand that some of the Utilikilts are Carhardt canvas, are they a lot stiffer than other kilts?

Yes. You can pretty much stand up a new Workman's UK on its own, and it won't collapse. For that matter, I've had mine a while, washed it a bunch of times, and it's still pretty stiff. It's actually heavier than my 8-yard 13oz. wool kilt.

Andrew.

[arrogcow]

Yes. You can pretty much stand up a new Workman's UK on its own, and it won't collapse. For that matter, I've had mine a while, washed it a bunch of times, and it's still pretty stiff. It's actually heavier than my 8-yard 13oz. wool kilt.

Andrew.

While I admit that the workman's are very stiff (I've learned downy works wonders). I've never managed to get one to stand up b itself.

Adam

[Alan H]

SURPRISE...I may have ordered 4 yards of material, but when I laid out the "other half" of my double-wide piece of canvas today, it came out to 3 yards and about twenty inches. So, either I got stiffed on the order or it shrank, bigtime when I washed it, or both.

I know how much blue jeans shrink when you wash them, it doesn't surprise me to have lost even as much as a foot in overall length in this material when washed and dried. Two and a half feet seems a bit steep, though.

Hey, Robert, I was planning to kife pleat all the way 'round the kilt and not put in that box pleat where the under-apron starts, just for simplicity. We'll see how that works out.

BTW gentlemen, if you google "make a kilt" you will come across three or four web sites (which I have read extensively) that give basic instruction for making uber-budget kilts. I ordered Barb's book the other day because my wife is pitching a fit over the cost of the X-Marks kilt, so I acquiesed and told her I'd stitch it up myself. I had a quick read through Barbs book last night (instead of working on the canvas kilt) and it looks very thorough, with a lot of information about kilt history, what differentiates a good traditional kilt from a so-so kilt and so on. Also, buy the book direct from Celtic Dragon Press, do NOT go to Amazon.com for it. I looked on Amazon and the retailers wanted $75 for it!!!

Another thing...I've noticed this before. The guys making kilts for a living that frequent X Marksare the friendliest, most helpful gentlemen on the blinkin' planet and always happy to share what they know. I think that's absolutely fantastic!

I have a question for folks out there who have made a mess of kilts. I assume that the more you make the bettter you get at it. I want my X Marks kilt to be a NICE kilt. Would it be wise to go buy 3 yards of PV and stitch up a PV kilt using Barbs instructions before biting off the wool job?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Thanks to all, I just ordered Barb's book from Celtic Dragon press. While I wait for it to arrive, I think that I will purchase the pattern I saw in another post, then decide what material I will use.

RJI