Because I am 'winging it' with these kilts I am making, the waist is not stiffened, nor thinned by cutting as I want to keep the construction fluid so I can reduce the size as I lose weight.

I wear a sturdy belt and put in two belt loops towards the back, and one on the apron.

When I curve the centre back down and then cut the pleats level I am making the centre back about an inch longer than the sides. I add a waist band only to hold the top of the back pleats, then fold the aprons over a reinforcing strip and sew down.

I am just a perfectionist I supose. So far as I can see the lower edges are level - another excuse for looking at my reflection.

When I find something which will make the rest of the construction easier I tend to go for it - if the aprons are 'self banded' there is no bother matching up the pattern. The top of the back is hidden by the belt, but I can usually (so far) find a toning fabric in my stash anyway.

I suspect that a lot of the people who have seen and claimed to be interested in the aquisition of one of my kilts would require a goodly amount of centre back dip - being 'well bustled' in build. The trick now is to find anyone interested in actually paying for one.

If I can sell kilts I can buy more fabric - that would be good.