Welcome to the forum!
What a great idea for a senior project.

I'll simply echo what my colleagues have said above. You can't beat Barb's book for step by step instructions.

That said, and as it says in the book, be prepared to spend 40+ hours on your first kilt. To do it right, does take time.

Kilts can be made from any type of fabric. What varies is what the finished product will look like. A kilt, in my opinion, really needs a heavier weight fabric to hang right. Most kilts are made from worsted wool in the 10oz to 16oz range, but as you'll see browsing through this site, many great looking kilts are made from canvas and other similar materials.

Good luck with it and have fun!