Dream Kilt “Project: Excalibur”

[Alan H]

Little story for you.

Once upon a time I got involved in some whacko web site for people who wear kilts. This project came up where the site was going to have its own tartan designed and woven up. I got involved in this project. When the time came to have the custom tartan delivered, three metres were heading my direction. I wrote to the professional kiltmaker that was coordinating this project...aka Steve Ashton of Freedom Kilts.... saying how excited I was to have the material for my first kilt coming my way.

His response?

OH, NO YOU DON'T. He told me to go find some cheap stuff and practice first. I was sure glad I did. That first hand-sewn took me 47 hours of work. It's hardly a masterpiece, though it's very wearable. After two years (more or less) it's still going strong, I wore it last night. However, I built three tartan kilts and four X-Kilts before I tackled my X-Marks-The-Scot tartan knife-pleat kilt. I'm glad I did, too.

You might try one on less costly material before really diving in, whole hog, on your really nice tartan material.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Ya, my first kilt took me 52 hours a year and a half ago, since then I have cut the rate down to 38 hours (That's what the MacNeil took me, of course work kept getting in the way) I am taking my time with this one. It always takes me 5 or six pleats to get back into the habit of sewing properly (of course I go and rip those ones out and all is right with the world again)
If I start to get frustrated I put it away.I am in no rush, the kilt is for me and I want it done correctly. All of the kilts I have made were leading up to this one. They have been all pleated the same way, the way I wanted this one to be pleated.
Thanks again for the advice.
Sara