Nothing slows down kiltmaking like stupidity

[Alan H]

I'm working on KCW's X-Kilt. I've been working on it for a flippin WEEK and I've only just sewn down the pleats.

I cut it out...fine.

Then I chalked on the pleat lines and so on. When I was done I stood up to inspect my work and dang but those pleats don't look straight. Sure enough, the pleating points at the hem were 1 1/2 inches off where they were at the waist. OK so I toothbrushed off all the chalk marks and did it again the next day.

DANGIT, I got off again and had to toothbrush all the marks off AGAIN. Third time I used a long tape measure and make SURE they were right, but it took me two flippin' hours because I kept getting 2 1/2 inches off....the difference between the width of the top of the pleat and the under-pleat width).

I seriously started to wonder about my mental state, ya know? I mean this isn't that hard, but Lord knows I could NOT get it right.. OK so when that was finally done I went to thread the machine....I've got about 1/10th of a spool of dark blue thread left. OK so now I have to buy thread. Next day, I'm out shopping.....but I space out on going to the fabric shop. GAAAAAAa... well I FINALLY have thread again, but sheesh.

No WAY will I ever do this for a living!

[Southern Breeze]

Don't let it worry you. Just charge by the hour.
I've had the same thing happen while making a kilt.

[switchblade5984]

Don't let it worry you. Just charge by the hour.
I've had the same thing happen while making a kilt.

but if he charged by the hour he would have to charge next to nothing to make them affordable :P

[Kilted KT]

it will come to you...My first sporran took hours and hours and hours, and it still didn't turn out the way I wanted. Give it some time, and you'll figure out how to make them the best way that works for you.
KT

[Barb T]

What _really_ slows down kiltmaking is a broken wrist. I broke mine in late July when I was doing field work in Iceland, and both kiltmaking and piping ground to a complete halt. I just got the brace off my wrist, though, and I'm finally back in business!

I'd trade all your marking hassles for my broken wrist, Alan!!

Barb

[KiltedTurtle]

I just finished my X-Kilt. In order to make sure I had all my marking right I borrowed a friends sheetrock t-square. It's about 4ft long and fits perfectly on the edge of a table. If your still having problems with it you might want to look into one of these.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Alan, take a break! Sounds like one too many XKilts in too short a time frame. Focus on something else for a few days. I've found that if I keep working on something and making mistakes, it is better to back off and try again after I have relaxed a bit. I actually was reading the XKilt instructions this past weekend and it has incented me to pull out the stitches on the first kilt I started and did not finish and remake it as an XKilt. Then I have some other fabric I bought at the same time that should work well too.

And Kiltedturtle, that is a fantastic idea!

[Livingston]

What _really_ slows down kiltmaking is a broken wrist. I broke mine in late July when I was doing field work in Iceland, and both kiltmaking and piping ground to a complete halt. I just got the brace off my wrist, though, and I'm finally back in business!

I'd trade all your marking hassles for my broken wrist, Alan!!

Barb

Ouch not a good thing to happen at any time. Glad to hear it's starting to get back to normal.

[JimB]

I just finished my X-Kilt. In order to make sure I had all my marking right I borrowed a friends sheetrock t-square. It's about 4ft long and fits perfectly on the edge of a table. If your still having problems with it you might want to look into one of these.

This sounds like a wonderful idea and you can bet I'm going to try it.

Sorry to hear about your wrist Barbara!