Great Kilt Assistance

[TheRowdyScotsman]

When I got my first "feile mor" 5 years ago, I found it very difficult to figure out how to get it folded correctly and found it even harder to finish off the remaining tartan once I had it on. So I ended up getting a draw string sewn in to help me get the folds correct and speed things up. I wasn't too crazy with the draw string... it just didn't work that well.

So I then had 2 inches of the "feile mor" sewn at the folds, so all I had to do was lay my "feile mor" down on the floor, straighten up the folds, wrap it and belt it on. That worked much better than the draw string.

During the past 5 years, I have gotten two more feile mors and spent some time learning how to fold it correctly and finish it off. With practice I got really good at it and have found that it is easier to just fold the "feile mor" yourself. It looks better and the folds are cleaner looking because you can care for the "feile mor" easier if it does not have a 2 inch sewn strip, nor the draw string.

I'd recommend, browsing some websites that show how to fold a "feile mor" and just practice it until you have it perfected. You'll get a better looking finish, your folds will be sharper and you can take pride in the fact that you did it.

Here are some websites I found useful in learning to fold my "feile mor"
http://www.lindaclifford.com/GreatKiltWrap.html
http://www.theweebsite.com/greatkilt/index.html
http://www.historichighlanders.com/belted.htm
http://www.kalani.net/KiltPleatingB.html
http://www.tartanweb.com/shop/pages/...reat_kilt.html

[Jack Daw]

Hi, everyone!

Okay, I bought about 3 yards of material (according to the X-kilt measurements I took I'm only 31" around). Solid color (dark maroon - think Texas A&M, only a little darker), around 60" wide, straight weave. It may be a wool blend, it may be PV, I'm not sure. The giant fabric store outlet where I got it had no idea, since it was a remnant in the clearance room (but it was in the high-end remnant section, so I'm hopeful).

Now, I want to put some loops in this material to run a drawstring through so that I don't have to go through the entire rigamarole of laying the material out on the ground in order to put it on. Since this is a solid color and not a tartan, at what intervals should I put the drawstring loops? Should those loops start from one edge of the material and go all the way to the other edge, or is it usual for there to be a smooth, unfolded apron on the front of the great kilt?

Also, and this may seem rudimentary, once those loops are on and the drawstring is in, how does one put it on? And what do I do with all that excess material (both string and fabric) that will be hanging down around my ankles?

Thanks in advance!
~Ken

RadioKen, my GK material is only 3 yds long, too. Until you get it sewn with loops, it should only take about 5 minutes to hand-pleat. I lay mine out on the bed rather than the ground. Just remember to slip the belt underneath before you get into it.

[Ryan Ross]

http://www.tartanweb.com/shop/pages/...reat_kilt.html

...great instructions for the very practical (and probably very historical) method I described, earlier in the thread.

[RadioKen]

Thanks to everyone who responded! I really appreciate the advice and input. I tried a couple of different methods and the one that seemed to work the best for me was simply laying the fabric out on the ground (or bed) and pleating it that way. It took a bit longer than the "stand and gather" method, but my wife said that it made better, cleaner looking pleats.

I wore it to Scarborough Fair this past weekend and was amazed at how comfortable it felt. Well, until the sun came out, that is. This material, being acrylic (or something man-made) was rather warm, and toward the end of the day I found myself rather uncomfortably hot. I'm sure that the extra material that I had gathered over my shoulder didn't help matters.

But this gave me some valuable experience and I'm looking forward to making another one, though this time out of wool.

~Ken

[Sionnachdubh]

They have many types of of instructions for dressing in the great kilt almost every site that sells great kilts online has one. (Tartan web's is absoulutley grand) pick the instructions that are easiest for you to see and understand, and then there is always youtube there are several videos on wrapping the great kilt.

Slainte

Sionnach dubh

[george7]

Most every instruction I've seen for wearing a great kilt involves lying on the ground. Do ya'll lay out in the yard or have a more discreet way of putting on your great kilt?

[sharpdressedscot]

No, there's actually a tutorial that tells you how to put it on while in a car seat! I'm not sure where I looked at that, but I'll try to find it. I'm sure it was at tartanweb or something...

[JRB]

I almost always don my great kilt by lying down on the prepleated section. However, I once read instructions on donning the great kilt whilst standing. It involves belting the pleated fabric to you and then sliding the aprons into place once the belt is secure. I tried it only once and wasn't too happy with the outcome. However, I'll bet it was the more popular way to don the kilt historically as it supposedly takes less time, doesn't involve as much preparation and can be done in small spaces. It just must take a lot more practice than I have attempted.

[escherblacksmith]

if you want the pleats neat and even, you either:

A: Lie it down and pleat, then lie down on the pleats, then wrap and belt.
B: Lie it down and pleat, iron the pleats down really well, and stitch them in place.

If you don't care about neat pleats, then standing and doing it isn't too terribly tricky. Just requires practice, but it won't look neat and even.

As to being discrete, you should be wearing at least a mid-thigh shirt, so that usually takes care of that.

[Nick the DSM]

No, there's actually a tutorial that tells you how to put it on while in a car seat! I'm not sure where I looked at that, but I'll try to find it. I'm sure it was at tartanweb or something...

lets not try that while driving!!