Alt.Kilt

[techdragon]

Techdragon,

So glad you came over to check out xmarks....I was the one that emailed you about these postings. You were asking about a reverse pleat. I found a website with this nice diagram to give you the idea of how the reverse pleat helps to keep the pleats from "kicking" out or flaring out. The part marked "double sett" is the location of the reverse pleat.

BTW, here's the website that the picture came from: http://users.telenet.be/jbruyndonckx/kilt_making2.html

Cool. Thanks for the image - it makes much more sense when you illustrate it. I am working on a mock-up with that style of pleating and will post a photo when it is done.

[techdragon]

To Techdragon, info others. I am the proud possessor(?) of an Amerikilt and I would hope that your Altkilts would be better made than this one. It has a loose sewn serging stitch on the hem and the looseness of the threads shows. It has a normal tendency for the waist band to roll over (I am 178 lbs and 5'8") so not from a rolling belly. Lastly and the most anoying concern is the fact that almost never can I get the snaps to close without pulling on the apron fabric in a very visable manner. If I would be sure that your snaps on the front would not pull and look like %^$*, I will probably buy one for no other reason for my summer wear.
Gordon
The hippy in a kilt.

Gordon,

I hem my kilts... I think it required to help fabric fall right (especially since it is done before the pleating) and use about 4 layers of fabric on the waistband to keep it in the right place.

Many of my gentleman friends are kilt wearers (being traditional or contemporary) and I have taken it upon myself to ask their lists of positive and negatives with multiple kilt styles. Yes, I prefer contemporary but I can and have wrapped a full 8 yard traditional kilt. I try to give people what they are looking for - which is why I only work custom... to solve people's personal problems with fit.

-Jeanie

[techdragon]

Oh dear! I am afraid that I have unwittingly put my foot in it. Without hesitation therefore, I offer TechDragon my unconditional apologies for the unwarranted harshness of my earlier post.

Finally, now that I am aware that TechDragon is just starting on the kilt-making road and that she is keen to learn from those of us who wear them, I should like to offer her my moral support and to advise her to listen to what so many here have already suggested. I may have a lot of kilts; I may have been wearing them for well over 50 years; I may have an eye for colour, balance and co-ordination, but I am not a technician and I do not understand the complexities of kilt-making. I earnestly trust that I may be forgiven for any discouragement, or hurt, I have caused.

I appreciate this and accept your apology, though a bit humbled I am... and thank you for taking the time to respond. I am learning and I must admit that the photos referenced (the denim and canvas kilts especially) are early styles and are bad photos that were rushed to have something live. Probably a bad decision all around but until I can replace them with better - it is better than none.

I do solid work and I know I can do better... I am jumping head first into the fray so I appreciate your help.

[Archangel]

Whew, peace and harmony, cool.

[Kid Cossack]

I appreciate this and accept your apology, though a bit humbled I am... and thank you for taking the time to respond. I am learning and I must admit that the photos referenced (the denim and canvas kilts especially) are early styles and are bad photos that were rushed to have something live. Probably a bad decision all around but until I can replace them with better - it is better than none.

I do solid work and I know I can do better... I am jumping head first into the fray so I appreciate your help.

Techdragon:

Don't worry about the "early styles" being up on your website now. Just keep on revising, and keep getting new pics up. I tend to want to get things "just right" before I do them, which in many cases means I end up not doing them at all. You'll have plenty of folks here who can comment/critique your work!

[sdc]

I think it looks good, but I'd echo the desire for a wider front apron (and Mocker-style pockets, if you could do them).