Decent Kilt jacket ?

[Alan H]

Trift stores....Saint Vincent de Paul Charity shops, secondhand stores....GREAT for finding stuff that you're going to put under the sewing machine and experiment with.

[MacHummel]

Hey All

My wife went to Old Navy and bought me one of their Tweed jackets I was so excited so I have made plans to retro fit the jacket to look like an Argyll including a vest I went to a local fabric store and low and behold the exact tweed of my jacket was on sale so after purchasing a coupe of meters I said to myself lets get to work. I then came to the realization I'll start in a week or two there are a couple of folks jonesing for their kilts . They come first experiments later.
MacHummel

[cavscout]

After trying to get to a thrift store for several weeks with no success, I pulled the trigger last night and bought the grey herringbone blazer from old navy. The price has been reduced from $49 to $29. It may go even cheaper after christmas but I didn't want to risk them running out as many stores near me are out of stock already.

I had the evening to myself so I spent it removing the pockets from the coat and then pinning the bottom and trying to simulate the cut back for the sporran. Started to post pictures but it was around 1:30 AM when I decided to stop. The shape looks pretty good but needs to be fine tuned and the pins make the fabric pucker so it's hard to see the smooth tailored look during the construction. I think the jacket will work well as there is a lot of space between the top button and the lower button to allow you to gently slope the cut back without hitting the button hole.

Normally I wear a 44R which would have been the Large size but after trying it on I opted for the Extra Large to allow extra fabric and comfort.

I rolled the bottom up about 4 -5 inches and the sleeves are rolled about 2". I'm not sure if I'll have material to make gauntlet cuffs but I will be able to make the pocket flaps.

[bubba]

I'm modifying a jacket as well. I got the pockets off already. This one had the patch pockets and a pocket flap. So far it looks like I'll be able to eliminate the lower bottonhole with the cutaway making is a single button. I might be able to make epaulets out of the excess material and since the cuffs have 4 buttons I can just remove one from each cuff for the epaulets saving myself the hassle of replacing all the buttons. Should make up into a decent looking informal jacket. It's navy blue so it should go ok with just about any kilt.

[Alan H]

Very cool...Pictures, gentlemen, pictures when you're done!

[cavscout]

Quick question Alan (or anyone that has see a gauntlet cuff in real life), the verticle lines on the cuffs and pockets of an argyll jacket, are they just a pleat in the material, a line of stitching or something else?

[bubba]

I believe they're braid stitched onto the cuffs and pocket flaps.