X-Kilt: Sew Your Own, manual available for download

[Alan H]

I am looking into making my first kilt using the X-Kilt pattern/manual. I would however like to add two front pockets & possibly a single rear pocket (like pants) so I can wear the kilt to work. Does anyone have any info and/or pictures on how to go about this?

Thanks in Advance,

My two cents....make a plain vanilla X-Kilt first. Once you've made one, you've got the idea in your head, AND you will have developed some rudimentary sewing skills. Put those pockets in X-Kilt #2.

In my own mind I can think of how I might make side, slash pockets, but I have to admit, how to make an internal back pocket has me stumped. Honestly, I'd probably just make an external pocket, like a pair of blue jeans, and maybe put some folds in it to mimic the box pleating. Then I'd tack it on the outside. A REAL internal rear pocket, I suspect, is a mess of detail work.

[blame the kilt]

alan h,

we have 4 kilts in various stages based on ur manual. the baby kilt is about done. your directions have made my hubby happy, since he directly benefits from it. as soon as baby kilt is finished, i suspect we will be making him another in a digi camo. thanks again for ur hard work.

blame the kilt

[Jake_S]

My two cents....make a plain vanilla X-Kilt first. Once you've made one, you've got the idea in your head, AND you will have developed some rudimentary sewing skills. Put those pockets in X-Kilt #2.

In my own mind I can think of how I might make side, slash pockets, but I have to admit, how to make an internal back pocket has me stumped. Honestly, I'd probably just make an external pocket, like a pair of blue jeans, and maybe put some folds in it to mimic the box pleating. Then I'd tack it on the outside. A REAL internal rear pocket, I suspect, is a mess of detail work.

Alan, I think making a rear pocket would not be that difficult. You would want to sew an outline of the pocket opening in the fell area, cut out the material for the opening, flip the kilt (so the inside is facing out), and sew on a pouch pocket (similar to your cargo pockets, but minus the pleat) to kilt, and you can then sew a flap on if you wanted to.

I might try that in the near future.

Jake

[Alan H]

Alan, I think making a rear pocket would not be that difficult. You would want to sew an outline of the pocket opening in the fell area, cut out the material for the opening, flip the kilt (so the inside is facing out), and sew on a pouch pocket (similar to your cargo pockets, but minus the pleat) to kilt, and you can then sew a flap on if you wanted to.

I might try that in the near future.

Jake

Yeah, but if you look at the Freedom kilts pockets, you don't see any stitching on the outside of the kilt where the inside pouch is sewn to the body of the kilt. Steve must attach in only up at the top, where the "slash" and the fold-over flap are. I can SEE this, I just would have to try it a couple of times before I could really go for it.

But hey, the X-kilt project is all about learning about kilts. So GO for it, tell us/show us what you did and how it worked out!.

[The Wizard of BC]

Jake S,

Remember that the X Kilt is supposed to be fun. Easy and fun. If you want pockets fine but please don't try to do pockets like I do. They are just too complicated to be fun. Unless your idea of fun is banging yourself with hammers or sewing your fingers together.

A hint. If you make the deep pleats under the apron REALLY deep, you can simply just pin the apron at it's proper place then fold the apron back out of the way and sew your pocket shape right into the deep pleat. Then, you can tack the top and bottom of your pocket opening to allow your hand to go in.

For rear pockets make a simple rectangular pocket from scrap fabric. Then cut a slash into the Fell area where you want the pocket to be. Pin the pocket to the inside of the Fell and stitch it into place. Then turn the kilt over to the good side and run a line of zig-zags around the opening to keep the raw edges from fraying.

You can then make up a flap and sew it over to opening.

I hope this helps and I hope Alan isn't too mad at me for messing with his wonderful design.

[Alan H]

Jake S,

Remember that the X Kilt is supposed to be fun. Easy and fun. If you want pockets fine but please don't try to do pockets like I do. They are just too complicated to be fun. Unless your idea of fun is banging yourself with hammers or sewing your fingers together.

A hint. If you make the deep pleats under the apron REALLY deep, you can simply just pin the apron at it's proper place then fold the apron back out of the way and sew your pocket shape right into the deep pleat. Then, you can tack the top and bottom of your pocket opening to allow your hand to go in.

For rear pockets make a simple rectangular pocket from scrap fabric. Then cut a slash into the Fell area where you want the pocket to be. Pin the pocket to the inside of the Fell and stitch it into place. Then turn the kilt over to the good side and run a line of zig-zags around the opening to keep the raw edges from fraying.

You can then make up a flap and sew it over to opening.

I hope this helps and I hope Alan isn't too mad at me for messing with his wonderful design.

Hey, the whole X-Kilt project is all about LEARNING about kilts. It has exactly zero to do with my ego or turning a buck. I bet that once someone tries making inside pockets on a kilt, they will then look at the going price for what Freedom Kilts charges to make inside pockets, and understand that it's a deal, because they probably spent triple the amount of time and quadruple the grief your seamstresses did, to produce a lesser quality job.

But if they LEARNED something, and even better, if they can wear what they learned, then all's right with the world.

BTW, when I get around to my next casual kilt, lord knows when, I might just try this trick with the super-deep under-apron pleats, and attaching the front slash pockets to those.

why didn't *I* think of that?

[The Wizard of BC]

Ah Alan, that's why I get paid the big bucks.

[Tartan Hiker]

BTW, when I get around to my next casual kilt, lord knows when, I might just try this trick with the super-deep under-apron pleats, and attaching the front slash pockets to those.

Why didn't *I* think of that?

Same here, on both counts! I just scored a pile of polycotton in the old desert camo pattern. Can't wait to get started on that!

[kfreeouf]

Same here, on both counts! I just scored a pile of polycotton in the old desert camo pattern. Can't wait to get started on that!

Is that the pattern that we used to refer to as "Chocolate Chip?"
I've been contimplating one in that pattern.
Semper Fi,
Keith