Advice needed in measuring

[ardchoille]

I have 5 yards of solid black wool and would like to begin making a kilt from it. However, the top and ends of this wool are not straight, but the selvage is. What I need to do first is start marking lines for sewing/pleating, but I can't do this because I don't have a t-square or protractor, though I do have a rule and tape measure. Can anyone here walk me through building a 90 degree angle so that I can cut the ends off straight? From there I can easily measure/chalk for the pleats.

[Bugbear]

* I'm sorry, ardchoille, that explanation wasn't very good.

[ChattanCat]

Here is one that I learned a long time ago. Make a square, or close to it, with a string. Try to make sharp corners. Now make all the sides the same length (each side will be 1/4 the total length of the string. Now measure from the lower left corner to the upper right corner. Also measure the lower right to the upper left corners. Adjust until the corner to corner measurements are the same. Make sure you keep each side length 1/'4 of the total length (this is key).

I learned this when we were installing an overhead conveyor system. Each pillar needed to be accruatly located. We measured, snaped a chalk line, then measured. Worked like a charm.

[Aldisimo]

Are you sure that the fabric is on-grain [lengthwise and crosswise threads are at a true right angle]? If it's off-grain it might appear more skewed than it really is. You can pull it gently on the bias to coax the threads into perpendicularity.

When you think that it's on-grain [or pretty close], snip a crosswise thread at the selvedge at the end of a short side. Pull the thread all the way out, which will leave a little space between the two adjacent crosswise threads. Cut the fabric across this little space and know that you have the true 90-degree crosswise angle at that end.

Do the same thing at the other short end to find the true 90-degree crosswise angle there.

Now, fold the fabric in half lengthwise. Each cut end should match up, that is, lie exactly on top of its other half. If not, the fabric is off-grain, and you should pin each cut to its other half and steam the fabric while pulling it on the bias to straighten it.

I sure hope this makes sense. It's easier to demonstrate than to explain.

[ardchoille]

Here is one that I learned a long time ago. Make a square, or close to it, with a string. Try to make sharp corners. Now make all the sides the same length (each side will be 1/4 the total length of the string. Now measure from the lower left corner to the upper right corner. Also measure the lower right to the upper left corners. Adjust until the corner to corner measurements are the same. Make sure you keep each side length 1/'4 of the total length (this is key).

I learned this when we were installing an overhead conveyor system. Each pillar needed to be accruatly located. We measured, snaped a chalk line, then measured. Worked like a charm.

This worked perfectly, thanks. Oh, and I bought a copy of Barb's book just now

[ChattanCat]

This worked perfectly, thanks. Oh, and I bought a copy of Barb's book just now

I enjoy following the book step by step for each kilt I make.
Enjoy