OK, a crazy idea: Kilt Camp

[Alan H]

This has been on my mind for about 3-4 days so why not go public with it. WHAT IF...WHAT IF...??????????????

This coming summer, somewhere (maybe one on the East Coast and one on West Coast) we had a "Kilt Camp".

I'm dreaming this up as I go, OK? So bear with me. NONE of this is set in stone, here.

You show up with 2 to 2 1/2 yards of double width tartan (or solid) of your choice, a package of needles and thread to go with your tartan, and a length of 3-inch wide velcro.

"Camp" lasts three days, make it a 3-day weekend. During "Camp" you spent 6 hours a day making a simple 4 or 5-yard casual kilt. I bet most folks can finish off a 4-5 yard machine-sewn kilt in 18 hours, since there'd be coaching right there. It took me about 19 hours to do my canvas kilt and I hadn't a clue what I was doing. The kilt would basically be a "traditional look" but maybe with velcro closures, 'cause that's easy to do an fast. If you wanted to add pockets and belt-loop doo-dads on your own later, you could.

Evenings are spent 'round the fire, at the pub, wherever with your kilted mates an their partners, if they come. You get 3-4 hours off each day to visit town, go hiking, whatever seems approparite for the location. One "professional" kiltmaker would supervise each session. They have to get paid. Hmmmm. How about $450 for three days? Minimum attendance would be 8 people, maximum is 10... cost for "Camp" is $60 a head.. Lodging, meals and transportation are up to attendees.

I haven't a clue what to do about getting the sewing machines. I've got one, I'd bring it, but it's just an old straight-stitch singer.

The last night is spent at the local pub, showing off the new kilts, of course.

OK, like I said I'm just imagining something, here. NONE of the above is firm, whatsoever.... XMarks the Scot kilt camp.

I'd go to Kilt Camp if it were for a three-day weekend, say in July, somewhere in California. Anybody else?

[Alan H]

OK, fantasy time....TOTALLY off the top of my head here...what woul dit cost to goto Kilt Camp if there was one within a 6-hour drive of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Transportation to and from...uh...a tank of gas: $30
Two nights, oh, heck...make it three, in the hotel.... $300
Three days grub...@$25/day...$75
Beer at the pub, three nights worth... $300 (or thereabouts, har!)
2.5 yards poly-viscose tartan... $65

or

2.5 yards wool from The Scottish Weaver... $100

assorted junk...$20

OK, so I could do this for $500- $600, which is one EXPENSIVE kilt, but it would sure be fun.

[The Wizard of BC]

I think that is a fantastic idea.

I offer my shop as the site for the first annual X Marks Kilt Kamp.

Four sewing machines with three more available and support from a machine repair guy with 13 more machines.

A LARGE stock of fabric in house.

Enough B&B's within walking distance to house 60 or 70 people, and nothing in the city more than a 45 min. walk away.

Three Traditional Kiltmakers who could, possibly, be brought on-board for those who want to do Trad's.

And to top it off a great vacation venue. "More British than the British"

[Robin]

A pitty it's a bit too far for me

Sounds like fun though...

[Livingston]

hmmm....very interesting but that would be one heck of a drive for me.

[Hamish]

hmmm....very interesting but that would be one heck of a drive for me.

And, alas, an even 'heckier' one for me!!!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I would be interested. It could be fun, and with Steve offering his expertise and shop for the venue, we may have eliminated many of the complicated details.

[GMan]

I like the idea! Of course time and scheduling constraints may be a problem.

Who are going to be the camp counselors? (OK my past is still with me).

[davedove]

Oh what fun! And the stories that will be told.

"One time, in Kilt Camp, ..."

[Barb T]

Elsie Stuehmeyer (my co-author and the woman I learned kiltmaking from) has been offering a kiltmaking camp for 15 years or more. It's held in conjunction with the Braemar School of Highland Dance every summer in June or early July in Troy, NY. You pay about $350, which covers lodging and meals at Emma Willard School (where they have the dance camp), you bring a kilt length of tartan, and the school lasts from Sunday night through Friday noon. Every year the camp runs, almost everyone finishes a kilt in that length of time, and those that don't have only a little more left to do. It is, in fact, how I learned how to make kilts. The camp typically has 8-10 participants.

It is _really fun_. If you guys ever wanted to run an XMarks kiltmaking workshop for people to learn how to make trad kilts, I'd love to teach it and, if it was possible to cover my travel, I'd do it for free.

Or, if you wanted to take Steve up on his offer, I'd love to come out to do the trad kilt part. And I could work with Steve on the book either before or after.

Cheers,

Barb