Kilt Pattern?

[Mr. MacDougall]

So, I was tossing around the idea of a jeans kilt -- something made from denim, to a more-or-less traditional pattern. I can make one less expensively than I can get someone else to make it for me -- medium weight denim runs about $6 the yard -- and it's not as if I'm inexperienced with garment construction.

So, I did a quick websearch, and found that Folkwear #152 is a kilt. I'm familiar with their patterns, having used a few in the past, so I'm sure it's a decent pattern. But I'm wondering if there's a pattern other people have used, and would recommend for a casual kilt?

Thanks in advance.

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Alan_H wrote a manual how to make an X-Kilt which is a box-pleat kilt of non-tartan material. I haven't made one, but many of the forum members have. The link is below.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20085

[chasem]

www.celticdragonpress.com for Barb T's Book, The Art of Kiltmaking. You can't beat it for a "pattern" ;)

[Alan H]

There is no such thing, truly as a kilt "pattern". Ther' sno point, it's a big strip of cloth folded up in pleats in the back and overlapping in the front. There's not a lot to cut out in special shapes, eh?

If you want a contemporary kilt, the X-Kilt instructions are pretty easy to understand and I think about 20-25 of them have been made. you can come to the forum and ask questions and you'll have the xperience of a bunch of makers to draw upon.....built in tech support! Follow that link and try it, if you think a box-pleat will work for you.

If you ever want to make a traditional kilt, then Barb's book is THE Schniznit....you gotta own it.

[sjrapid]

If you want a trad look in denim, then why not do what I just did - use Barb Tewksbury's book, follow her method, but do it in denim, and machine sew where possible.

Works well - looks very 'trad' in style.

Best regards

[The Wizard of BC]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.
Each stitch line must be done with 100% Polyester thread too. Look at the side seam of a pair of blue jeans. See that puckering. that is what each line of stitching will look like very soon if you don't pre-shrink and iron each pleat every time you wash the kilt.
Can you tell I'm not a fan of Denim for kilts? Especially self-made ones. Everyone thinks that a kilt made from denim will feel like a well lived in pair of blue jeans when the exact opposite is true. Most denim kilts feel stiff and rigid. Cotton wrinkles, a lot, and must be ironed to retain the crisp edge to the pleats. You don't have legs inside tubes to force the fabric into a shape so must do it with an iron.
Only after repeated washings does denim start to soften enough to hang on it's own.

[Tartan Hiker]

What everyone else said.....I don't like to make anything out of denim and the X-kilt instruction manual is great for a quick contempo kilt, but use cotton/poly twill.

[Mark Keeney]

I have the folkwear pattern and the kilt pattern is just instructions not a pattern with pieces to cut. I used the pattern to make tartan kilt hose. It only took 18 months.

[way2fractious]

But I'm wondering if there's a pattern other people have used, and would recommend for a casual kilt?

There are a few sets of detailed instructions on the internet that can guide you in making a casual kilt. One of them is linked in this post: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...61&postcount=1

The trick is to visualize what to do and how to do it, so examining a completed kilt certainly helps. Find your nearest Scottish Imports store and go inspect their kilts. Or, borrow one from a local XMarksTheScot member (but they'll want a mortgage on your house, car, or dog as collateral.)

[MacWage]

You CAN use some of the on-line ones, BUT for acceptable results . . . BARB'S BOOK is the BEST and produces a SIGNIFICANTLY better kilt in every form or fashion.
My first kilt I made, I used online instructions (found here while looking for them and joined a couple months latter). I then bought Barb's book and IT IS SOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER that the cost is WELL worth it.

My bookmarked instructions:
http://users.telenet.be/jbruyndonckx/kilt_making.html
http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html
http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/chegc/kiltsite/kilt.htm

The first one isn't really THAT bad, but the ones made AFTER getting Barb's book, even if they are box pleats, are SO MUCH better that the first one looks crappy to me now.