Box-pleated Tartan PV X-Kilt Hiking Hybrid!

**Tartan Hiker** · 27th March 07, 05:07 PM

The first hiking trip will have to wait for the weekend, I fear. If the weather is decent I may try to do Graybeard, which is the last peak in the Black Mountain chain south of Mt. Mitchell.

As for the pleat-sewing, Alan H is just right...it's a lot easier to show it than to describe it, so here you go, Heath.

I used a note card cut to the width of the pleat at the waist, marked on the inside of the pleat where the edges of the card hit the waist edge. My pleats were 2" at the bottom of the fell and 1.5" at the waist.

Then I chalked a straight line on the inside of the pleat from the waist mark to the bottom of the fell (remember that I already pressed the pleats from the hem up to the bottom of the fell, so there was a crisp fold there. That way I knew exactly where the line ended). You only need to make one of these lines, on the side that will be facing up when you are stitching.

I flipped the kilt over and carefully basted just the bottom 1/4" of the fell. That way everything stays put without my having to hold it.

Then I flipped it back wrong side out, pulled the pleat out tight, held the two waist marks together and ran a line of stitches from waist to fell.

The trick is to be extra-sure that the cloth is evened up at the top or the whole pleat will be off. I messed up one and had to rip it out...no fun.
The result...a perfect machine-sewn taper without a thread showing. And NO PINS!

**HeathBar** · 27th March 07, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the extra detail. You're right, its easier to show rather than tell.
I hope the weather holds out this weekend for your hike.

**Doc** · 27th March 07, 09:36 PM

Nice. what does Fred think, is he jonesing for his coller?

**Alan H** · 27th March 07, 09:41 PM

It looks GREAT!!!

**way2fractious** · 28th March 07, 09:27 AM

Thompson tartan, in all its color variations, has always been a favorite of mine. Your choice of the camel color for outdoor use is a good one.

As you know, and shared with us, sewing casual kilts is quick and easy. The resulting kilt is a blast to use and you never worry about hurting it.

Thank you for bringing us along on this adventure in do-it-yourself kiltmaking, with your work-in-progress pics, illustrated sewing techniques, and works-for-me innovations.

Hike kilted!

**Doomsday** · 28th March 07, 02:03 PM

Now you just need a matching pack for the dog.

**Tartan Hiker** · 1st April 07, 10:05 AM

No matching dog accessories yet, and no good hiking weather today, I'm afraid.

Before gettig my new kilt all grimy on the trail I decided to wear it out and about a bit, including to church this AM. Made up some tartan flashes from left over material and put together this outfit. Sorry Fred wasn't smiling.

Cheers!