Kilt Pattern?

[Nerts]

I'll probably be making my way over to the Island sometime in May but it depends on funds. Will let you know.

Thanks,
E.

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Shameless plug:

Buy the book!
Buy the book!
Buy the book!

I've been reading it (and incidentally dreaming about it, which is a good sign-means I've been internalizing it). It's very thorough and I know I will be able to construct a kilt as soon as I can find the time and get over my initial fear of potentially destroying some tartan material.

Be well,

[Mr. MacDougall]

I know I will be able to construct a kilt as soon as I can find the time and get over my initial fear of potentially destroying some tartan material.

Why not do a test run first, on les expensive material, and apply your lessons learned to the tartan?

[MacWage]

Why not do a test run first, on les expensive material, and apply your lessons learned to the tartan?

I agree.
I made 3 kilts (finished 2, all are tartan/plaid wools) in cheaper stuff before I started on worsted. AND, the first worsted I did was some clearance 13 oz F&K Caledonia I go from The Scottish Weaver, out of Charlotte, NC (I got 4 yards for $99, plus shipping). The first is well passable, the second (my first box) is good (pleats are WAY to small), the third looks great (but is crappy material, so it remains not quite finished). The forth, and so on look good enough to stay in my main rotation.

On EACH I learned SO much that the ones now are MUCH better and the investment was just time. The key, though, is to get material that best imitates the feel and characteristics (weigh, pull, hang, etc) of worsted wool.

[way2fractious]

[The book is] very thorough and I know I will be able to construct a kilt as soon as I can find the time and get over my initial fear of potentially destroying some tartan material.

I find myself changing position on the "fear of destroying tartan" question.

My experience as a novice started out by handsewing a cotton casual kilt, then a few more, before attempting a tartan kilt using The Art of Kiltmaking. Two years later I attended a five-day kiltmaking workshop where most participants were very familiar with sewing. However, a couple of the men were not, yet they were helped past the "fear of destroying tartan" and were able to complete their kilts during that time. They (kilts and men) came away looking very fine.

There are only a few steps the kiltmaker finds nerve-racking: 1) cutting or ripping the tartan into kilt-width strips, 2) cutting out the excess material behind the pleat tapers, and 3) trimming the final piece off the underapron. But stop and think about it - the first and third are just measuring properly, and only the second step is truly destructive of the tartan. Yet that cutting is done after the pleat tapers are sewn, which means the kiltmaker has every opportunity to inspect, undo, and re-sew as many times as necessary to get the stitching right before cutting anything. This tartan (we are all addicted to) is pretty tough stuff.

Worst case: you undo every stitch made and wind up with a piece of tartan again. If it was measured improperly, then a kilted skirt or a child's kilt is still possible.

For anyone already familiar or handy with needle and thread, tape and scissors, there should be "no fear." Get the book and... Kilt On!