Hair canvas

[sydnie7]

Hair canvas takes the strain off your pleat stitches. If you leave it out, the kilt might look OK at first, but after it is worn for a while you will be able to tell the difference.

Stabilizer is a narrow strip of any closely woven fabric (broadcloth etc) stitched at the waistline. It takes the strain of both left and right-hand buckles, and is easy to install. I suspect Ted will chime in here with his link to "putting a stabilizer in a Stillwater" thread where he added one to a commercially made kilt.

I used the Tailor's Pride hair canvas that Barb T recommends. I know you are not in U.S. and may not have easy access, but if you want your kilt to last and look good you should try to find some equivalent material. Are there any custom tailors near you that could supply or recommend a locally available material? It's not a very heavy "canvas" -- I was surprised how light weight it is by itself -- but it really adds to the body and heft of the kilt when sewn in as instructed.

Maybe there is someone on the forum here who bought a large piece and could sell you enough for your kilt? I would offer but I have plans for all that I bought.

Best of luck and good kilting!

[HeathBar]

If you are cutting out the top part of the inside pleats then yes you would at least need it in the back. If you are not cutting them out then its not necessary. You would still need the stabilizer strip under the liner. Adding the canvas to the top of the aprons would depend on the style and use of the kilt. The canvas is used for shaping and adding structure to the waist are of the kilt.