Kilt Maker Disappointment

[James MacMillan]

It's hard to tell from the pics that you posted, because the left apron edge doesn't show in most of them.

B

If I catch the Battle Axe in a good mood I'll get her to take a flick of me trying to show what I mean. But it will have to wait till at least Friday, cause our schedules currently don't match up.

Of course by that time we all will have moved on to other things......

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Kid Cossack]

X-Marks rules - with open conversation like this, I could kill hours and hours, just poking the keyboard.

Thanks for being here - from a confirmed curmudgeon (spelling?) retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant and died in the wool kilter.

Umm, Master Guns? I do think it's "dyed in the wool" but I never correct SNCOs.

[James MacMillan]

Umm, Master Guns? I do think it's "dyed in the wool" but I never correct SNCOs.

- - Duh ! and this after finding out that Firefox can spell kurlmudglion (no) cirmodjin (no) curXXXXXXX (X#$%&XZ*&) Curmudgeon (that's it) for me.

You're right - "died in the wool" is what the shepherd did when hit by lightning!

[morrison]

I've one more point to bring brothers and sister to this most lively thread. Dear friend, brother 'James MacMillan', Have you considered the invitation of a new XMTS reader or member? Yes, the person whom is at the heart of this lively discussion has a will and opinion as valid and valuable as any of mine. I propose you provide your kilt maker/orderer the opportunity to check out XMARKSTHESCOT.com and possibly become a member or visitor or even a advertising maker. She'll surely appreciate the civility this thread maintained and the level of respect shown for an unknown.
Go on, send the invite or at least the web address for her acceptance or refusal!

[mudd]

Velcro on a Traditional Kilt? What's next, Dogs and Cats sleeping together??

[James MacMillan]

I've one more point to bring brothers and sister to this most lively thread. Dear friend, brother 'James MacMillan', Have you considered the invitation of a new XMTS reader or member? Yes, the person whom is at the heart of this lively discussion has a will and opinion as valid and valuable as any of mine. I propose you provide your kilt maker/orderer the opportunity to check out XMARKSTHESCOT.com and possibly become a member or visitor or even a advertising maker. She'll surely appreciate the civility this thread maintained and the level of respect shown for an unknown.
Go on, send the invite or at least the web address for her acceptance or refusal!

When I left her house I didn't want to ever see her again. I know for a fact that she doesn't have a website, maybe e-mail? I won't invite her, but I will instigate an invitation to her from the individual who originally got me her address and phone number. He lurks here, but has yet to post.

It requires a certain amount of guts to place yourself open for flames and arrows. Not that that ever happens here!

I only wish I had discovered this group years ago. This is fun!! I get yelled at, and enjoy it. Must be something wrong with me??

[James MacMillan]

Velcro on a Traditional Kilt? What's next, Dogs and Cats sleeping together??

I thought we had already decided that question! The moment that you place Velcro in a kilt, it stops being a "Traditional" kilt and turns into an "Non-Traditional" kilt.........

[The Wizard of BC]

Hey Gunny, Semper Fi. Say hi to o'side for me. I was born just east at the old Santa Margarita Hospital. Then did some time at San Onofre. Was an airdale though so did most of my time up around Santa Ana.

In the pictures you posted it does indeed seem like the kilts you have do not have any taper to the aprons.
For someone your size and shape I would have put in as much taper as I could have made the fabric take. Between 2.5 and 3 inches on each side. 5"-6" total.
I also would have worked the taper up to the bottom of the Fell as much as I could before dropping straight down.

In my experience it is apron taper that causes or corrects pleat "kick" more than any other thing.
The depth of the deep and reverse pleats is used to allow the aprons to fall between the legs when sitting and squatting.
To tell which your kilt is suffering from try this;

Sit down with your knees just wider than shoulder width and lightly drop your hand in your lap. If the apron falls down and can easily touch the chair seat you have sufficient depth to the under apron pleats. If this is ok proceed.

Next step; Take a walk down the street. A good marching step. Now look down at the hem of your apron. If you see the outer corner of the apron flip forward on the left when the right foot advances and flip forward on the right when the left foot advances you have an apron taper problem. If this is ok proceed.

Next; Stand at parade rest. If the outer corners of the aprons kick out and curl forward, your kilt is the wrong size in the hip, or the Fell is in the wrong location, (Too long or too short) or again the apron taper is insufficient.

I hope this helps you on your next kilt.

BTW, instead of Velcro at the waist have you considered asking for your kilt to be made without the straps & buckles and then adding a couple of trouser waistband hooks and eyes? They hold far better than year old Velcro and won't ruin the wool of your kilt.

[ChattanCat]

I being a newbie kiltmaker, understand where she might be coming from. First of all the pleats are made for a right hander. If you reverse the pleats, you need a left hander. In old kiltmaker houses, it used to be required that you be right handed.

CC

[James MacMillan]

Hey Gunny, Semper Fi. Say hi to o'side for me. I was born just east at the old Santa Margarita Hospital. Then did some time at San Onofre. Was an airdale though so did most of my time up around Santa Ana.

In the pictures you posted it does indeed seem like the kilts you have do not have any taper to the aprons.
For someone your size and shape I would have put in as much taper as I could have made the fabric take. Between 2.5 and 3 inches on each side. 5"-6" total.
I also would have worked the taper up to the bottom of the Fell as much as I could before dropping straight down.

In my experience it is apron taper that causes or corrects pleat "kick" more than any other thing.
The depth of the deep and reverse pleats is used to allow the aprons to fall between the legs when sitting and squatting.
To tell which your kilt is suffering from try this;

Sit down with your knees just wider than shoulder width and lightly drop your hand in your lap. If the apron falls down and can easily touch the chair seat you have sufficient depth to the under apron pleats. If this is ok proceed.

Next step; Take a walk down the street. A good marching step. Now look down at the hem of your apron. If you see the outer corner of the apron flip forward on the left when the right foot advances and flip forward on the right when the left foot advances you have an apron taper problem. If this is ok proceed.

Next; Stand at parade rest. If the outer corners of the aprons kick out and curl forward, your kilt is the wrong size in the hip, or the Fell is in the wrong location, (Too long or too short) or again the apron taper is insufficient.

I hope this helps you on your next kilt.

BTW, instead of Velcro at the waist have you considered asking for your kilt to be made without the straps & buckles and then adding a couple of trouser waistband hooks and eyes? They hold far better than year old Velcro and won't ruin the wool of your kilt.

O'side says "Hi" back......

I'm continueing to learn things about how the kilt should be made. I have no problem with apron curling on my kilts. All but one of them (a cheapie) seem to have enough to allow the apron to easily drop between the legs when sitting.

When walking, I don't seem to notice any of the things you mention, but then, maybe I'm no paying enough attention looking down at my kilt..

I thought that apron taper was a factor or multple somehow of waist to hip measurement, and if you had a large waist coupled with a large hip, less taper would be needed..

But there again, my custom kilts were made via post office, and I have never been to see a kilt maker face to face. Maybe all my kilts don't fit as they should..