Does this count??

[druid]

...as an "X-Kilt?" Am I part of the club now??

My Winter Camo Kilt

Well, I decided to try my hand at Kilt-making and downloaded the instructions provided by the forum. The instructions are fairly simple and easy to follow. My only issue…what material to use and what color? I already own a Black Watch Tartan, I’ve ordered my Family Tartan, for which I must yet wait for - and a digital MARPAT Kilt made by AmeriKilt.com (which I use for paintball)…what I didn’t have was something specifically for winter…and especially for paintball.

The instructions provided by the site are intended to create the “X-Kilt” that has 3” box pleats. That’s cool…it uses less material overall and seems easier to sew than a knife pleated Kilt. Since I’m sewing this by hand (no machine available to me), that should be less needle work.
This made my choice pretty simple…white. Now the weight…hmm…playing paintball in the winter can get cold on its own…now wear a Kilt on a snow-covered mountaintop in PA. I chose to use 10oz canvas but I could only get it in off-white. No problem, paintball fields that I attend don’t normally have pure white snow.
Looking at the instructions, the pattern calls for a doubled outer apron and a single layer inner apron. I chose to modify this and make both inner and outer aprons double thick. This would give me extra warmth while running around like an idiot in 20 degree weather. I purchased 3 ½ yards of material for $15.00 and a spool of matching white thread. I also purchased a pack of white ‘sew-on’ 3” wide Velcro. Since the material came ~60” wide, I knew that would be more than enough for what I wanted to do.
I followed the recommendations offered on the instructions and first shrank the canvas in a hot washer and dryer. After plotting out the Kilt on the canvas, I cut the material into 2 sections 23” long (the drop of the Kilt). This way I could sew them end-to-end and have plenty of room to work with.
As you can see, I sewed all the pleats (6 of them) into place…both inside and out. I also gave it a 3” over-hem at the small of my back. I will be using a 2” web belt and this way, the pleats are completely protected. What you don’t see is that the inside of that 3” over-hem extends down the inside to my rump…approximately 8” down to cover the “fell.” I also created a border for the tops of the aprons. This was 2” wide x 19” log (the length of the aprons from hip to hip) when I cut it and then folded it into 4 half-inch folds. This will keep the material from fraying on the top of the aprons.
The bottom hem of the Kilt is the selvedged part of the material. Instead of stitching this, I used liquid thread locker to seal the threads together. It goes on clear and dries perfectly invisible. I also used it on all the stitches I made – in the pleats, the over-hem at my back, everything.
I then stitched the Velcro on the over and under aprons but it runs the whole length of the aprons from hip bone to hip bone.
The majority is done but I’m still working on creating an integrated sporran and finally, I will dye it to imitate PA hardwoods in the winter time. What I want to do is take Rit dye and mimic the barren foliage you see in the snow…tree limbs, sticks and shadows in gray…with just a touch of green (like rogue sprigs of grass coming out of the snow) and those purple vines from Hell.. How am I going to do that? Not a clue actually, but I was thinking that I could either make stencils from sticky plastic contact sheets from a stationery store or dip actual sticks and vines into the dye and imprint it directly onto the material.
I have enough material left over that I want to make spats for my boots…and then dye them to match the Kilt pattern. This should blend better than a solid black boot does.

Anyway, onto the pics…..







All I have to do now is sew on the belt loops and create the sporran...then the dying thing I described above.

How'd I do?

[attworth]

Good job. The only comment I would make is that the pleats should not have the gap between them from the fell to the waistline. Looks a little odd and also throws off measurements.

For the dye. Try something like Tie dye. There's lots of different ways to get strange patterns by folding, crunching and bunching. Practice on old t-shirts first.

[James MacMillan]

Great look there. I like the way you managed to pleat to sett.

[Pleater]

I don't know if they are available where you are, but at one time there were crayons for dyeing fabric - intended for tee shirts.

The method was simple enough, draw on fabric, iron it, job done. They might be useful.

They were called Fabric Crayons, and I got mine in a large toy shop, if that helps in tracking them down.

Anne the Pleater

[Carolina Kiltman]

I don't know if they are available where you are, but at one time there were crayons for dyeing fabric - intended for tee shirts.

The method was simple enough, draw on fabric, iron it, job done. They might be useful.

They were called Fabric Crayons, and I got mine in a large toy shop, if that helps in tracking them down.

Anne the Pleater

To this I will only add, any wax craryon will work! just do a good heavy job of colouring and then (using a piece of baker's parchment over the fabric) iron it well. When I was a kid prior to WWII and money was tight, my Mother used this technique to make curtains for my room. The material was old bed sheets (cotton/linen). The only problem seemed to be when they were washed they did fade, and we had to re-colour them. Might be worth a try on a piece of scrap fabric. Also Acrylic artist's water colours made into a very thin wash work well for this type of pattern on fabric, and are more permanent.

In any case, have fun doing it!

[george7]

Or just wait for the paintball field to do the coloring.

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

Great look there. I like the way you managed to pleat to sett.

[DTrain]

Might want to sew the velcro from the over apron closer to the edge so you don't get the "flap" of the outer apron. Especially while running around playing paintball, you don't want to have a loose flapping edge to catch on something and rip off your entire kilt!

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

Good job. The only comment I would make is that the pleats should not have the gap between them from the fell to the waistline. Looks a little odd and also throws off measurements.

True, but I kinda like this look. It is unique and visually pleasing.

[druid]

Good job. The only comment I would make is that the pleats should not have the gap between them from the fell to the waistline. Looks a little odd and also throws off measurements.

For the dye. Try something like Tie dye. There's lots of different ways to get strange patterns by folding, crunching and bunching. Practice on old t-shirts first.

Hrm...I thought it looked a bit different than what others I've seen...however, the measurements seem to have fallen into line as it fits very well. As you can see, I have no ***...just hips.

I don't know if they are available where you are, but at one time there were crayons for dyeing fabric - intended for tee shirts.

The method was simple enough, draw on fabric, iron it, job done. They might be useful.

They were called Fabric Crayons, and I got mine in a large toy shop, if that helps in tracking them down.

Anne the Pleater

Thanks for the tip!

Or just wait for the paintball field to do the coloring.

LOL...problem is, the paint is white fill so it won't really do anything.

Might want to sew the velcro from the over apron closer to the edge so you don't get the "flap" of the outer apron. Especially while running around playing paintball, you don't want to have a loose flapping edge to catch on something and rip off your entire kilt!

Well, I kind of did that on purpose...
I multi-layer when I play to combat the cold but also, I'll be wearing a webbed belt at the waist. The flap will be secured inside the belt line.

True, but I kinda like this look. It is unique and visually pleasing.

Thanks. I think it looks pretty good for a very first Kilt and especially since it's hand-sewn.