Stabilizer and Apron Canvas...?

[Barb T]

The stabilizer can be any piece of tightly-woven fabric, and broadcloth is just fine. You need something lightweight and not stretchy, so be sure to cut parallel to the fabric grain. The stablizer is typically not canvas.

Actually, I buy bandanas at the local surplus store in outrageous colors and patterns (hot chili peppers, etc.) and cut strips to use as stabilizers. It gives me a giggle to think of them inside the kilt where no one will ever see them. Sometimes I try to choose a bandana that's important to the person I'm making the kilt for. For Jay's Project Iraqi Freedom kilt and for my daughter's Air Force tartan kilt, I cut up a stars and stripes bandana for the stabilizer.

I started using bandanas when I had a crisis on a trip when I was working on a kilt and had forgotten to bring along stabilizer fabric. I was stuck in an airport with nothing to do when I was struck by an inspiration to use the bandana that I had stashed in my briefcase. Got the kilt done and have had fun with it ever since.

Cheers,

Barb