Hi Kilt man with Sword,
I can completely understand how frustrating things can get. I made my first kilt of corduroy a bit ago and got compliments on it (real or trying to make me feel good, I don't know. In any case, I made the kilt, after reading all kinds of instructions and getting ideas, from this web site exclusively: http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html
I pondered, schemed, woke up in the night trying to figure how to do this and that for at least 30 or 40 hours, THEN I went at it with the material, a package of bent safety pins and in 8 hours had the kilt. Go for it man, any thing you make will make you better then second time you try it. You will learn so much more do than pondering like I did.

Gordon of Clan MacHardy origin