Sewing Machines

[HeathBar]

I've been putting my new machine to work. I had the day off yesterday, so I worked on my new kilt. I bought some generic MARPAT desert camo from Hancocks Fabric. It was 40% off from 7.99 a yard. The fabric feels like denim. I'm about a third of the way through.

I haven't had any trouble from the machine, and Barb's idea of using bare feet on the pedal seems to work better. I'll keep ya posted on the progress.

[Barb T]

If you're making a leather kilt, don't forget to use a leather needle in the sewing machine. Leather needles actually have knife-blade edges to cut through the leather.
B

[UmAnOnion]

If you're making a leather kilt, don't forget to use a leather needle in the sewing machine. Leather needles actually have knife-blade edges to cut through the leather.
B

further on what barb said, always ensure that you are using the correct needle type for teh fabric you are working on. Had a *(&^ in a fabric store try to sell me round point needles (made for knits) for working on heavy duty canvas - which requires a sharp pointed needle (but not a knife edge leather needles which woud slice the threads of a woven fabric)

also be sure to match the needle weight to the weight of fabric heavier fabrics need thicker/stronger needles and nothing is more fruistrating than trying to stitch a heavy weight fabric with needles that are too light & keep breaking!!!

[Southern Breeze]

further on what barb said, always ensure that you are using the correct needle type for teh fabric you are working on. Had a *(&^ in a fabric store try to sell me round point needles (made for knits) for working on heavy duty canvas - which requires a sharp pointed needle (but not a knife edge leather needles which woud slice the threads of a woven fabric)

also be sure to match the needle weight to the weight of fabric heavier fabrics need thicker/stronger needles and nothing is more fruistrating than trying to stitch a heavy weight fabric with needles that are too light & keep breaking!!!

Excellant advice. I had to learn all this the hard way.

[BLAZN]

I haven't had any trouble from the machine, and Barb's idea of using bare feet on the pedal seems to work better. I'll keep ya posted on the progress.

I always use bare (or socked) feet when I sew. I find that when I try with shoes on, my "driving gene" takes over all thought processes and mashes the pedal.

[HeathBar]

I said I would update on the progress of my kilt. So far I have sewn up the outside edge of the pleats, sewn the fell and sewn the inside edge of the pleats.
What I have left to do is remove the inside pleat above the fell, sew on the waistband and the belt loops. I will be using velco as a fastner.
Here is a pic of the kilt so far with my sewing mashine.
Not bad for $25. (sewing machine that is)

[BLAZN]

I said I would update on the progress of my kilt. So far I have sewn up the outside edge of the pleats, sewn the fell and sewn the inside edge of the pleats.
What I have left to do is remove the inside pleat above the fell, sew on the waistband and the belt loops. I will be using velco as a fastner.
Here is a pic of the kilt so far with my sewing mashine.
Not bad for $25. (sewing machine that is)

Looks good. Where did you snag the MARPAT?

[HeathBar]

Looks good. Where did you snag the MARPAT?

Thanks Blazn...I picked it up at Hancock fabrics for 40% off. It's 100% cotton. It feels like demin. But it is the generic MARPAT, not the real deal.

[BLAZN]

Thanks Blazn...I picked it up at Hancock fabrics for 40% off. It's 100% cotton. It feels like demin. But it is the generic MARPAT, not the real deal.

Ah. Real deal or not, it looks good. I've seen the stuff on Hancock's website. I'm hoping they have one of their stores near Kittery, ME.

I have a list on my PDA of fabrics I want to buy up to make some kilts. And the more I read threads like this, the more I 1) Can't wait for Barb's book to show up in my mail and 2) realize I need to get busy on my hand sewn kilt!

[way2fractious]

What I have left to do is remove the inside pleat above the fell...

It looks like you are using standard 2-inch pleats, and this produces a wee bit of overlap inside as they taper toward the waist. My advice is that it is unnecessary to cut out any material between waist and fell on a simple casual kilt such as this. Just go ahead with the waistband, which locks in the tops of the tapers, then line the kilt. I believe you will be more pleased with it uncut.