machine vs hand sewn

[Bugbear]

Yes, Pleater, one of my grandmothers, the one I grew up living with for a time, had two of the treadle machines. Neither worked anymore.

I have noticed that the polyester thread slips a lot more than the cotton. I have to rethread my needel sometimes when using the polyester because it slips through the eye so easily. I like sewing with all cotton, quilting thread for some reason; probably because it's a little thicker and easier for me to handle. I use the polyestor for working on my kilt, though.

[Cherub]

ok having read all of this I have a Question about one company's kilts in regards to stabilizer's. Do Stillwater heavyweights have them?

Just curious as I have one on order (Custom) not that this will affect my purchase

[Bugbear]

ok having read all of this I have a Question about one company's kilts in regards to stabilizer's. Do Stillwater heavyweights have them?

Just curious as I have one on order (Custom) not that this will affect my purchase

No.

They have a waistband of the same material as the kilt at the very top. The pleats are tapered all the way to that waistband which is a half inch wide or so. The buckles are a couple of inches down from there.

When you put the kilt on, all the tension from the straps and buckles is transmitted through the fell stitching and upward a little to the back section of the waistband. The squeeze of the kilt is mainly up toward that narrow area of the waistband.

I put a stabilizer in my SWKs and it took up all of that tension, and also spread it out over the top two inches of the kilt. It's not perfect, though, because the pleating does not flare out from the buckles/straps to the top of the kilt; it did make a noticeable change in the way the kilt fit. Also, the pleats are not cut out above the fell and replaced with pleated hair canvas and there is no canvas in the aprons. This makes the kilt thicker up there. My back side is flat, so it doesn't cause too much of a problem except up there in that stabilizer area.

I'm not done making alterations in the kilt, though...

[lickstone]

Anything hand sewn is worth far greater than machine sewn. First of all, hand sewn takes gobs of time and talent. Machine time is extremely fast. Machine stitches are all the same in size. Hand sewn shows the labor of love.
For what it is worth, find a hand sewn kilt. Then add the hand made accessories. You'll have a ton of compliments and be glad you made your choice wisely.

Hi all my question is this. What is the difference between a machine stitched and hand sewn kilt? (besides the obvious!) How would you tell the difference and is a hand sewn that superior? Please keep in mind that we are comparing like product same material, weight and yardage.
slainte

[Spartan]

Thanks to all who have contributed to this discussion. For someone who's new to kilting, this has helped be understand a lot more about the intricacies of the kilts that I buy and wear. This has been really helpful.

[Riverkilt]

Key differences: No bobbin thread for hand sewing, bobbin thread for machine sewing.

Thicker, stronger, thread, made for hand sewing kilts when hand sewing - at least by a member of the Traditional Kiltmakers Guild. Polyesther or thinner threads for machine sewing.

Ron

[Bugbear]

Why hasn't someone invented a machine that can sew without that bobbin?

It's easier to put several men on the moon several times, and bring them all back alive, but we can't come up with a new way for machines to sew... Like making stitches that are a line of tiny individual knots or something.

Must there be no progress!!

[Canuck]

Why hasn't someone invented a machine that can sew without that bobbin?

snip

Actually they have. Though I will admit it's still two threads. Union sewing machines were one of the companies that didn't rely on a bobbin. The thread would come from a spool that fed to the bottom of the machine much like a serger does.

[The Kilted Reverend]

This really has me thinking about my kilt I have on order with Scotland Yard. If it will have a stabilizer and such. Wish I had seen this in time to ask these questions.

Slainte,
TKR

P.S. THe jonesing has not gotten bad at all, maybe because of XMarks I was ready for the wait.

[RockyR]

Why hasn't someone invented a machine that can sew without that bobbin?

It's called a blindstitch machine (ours only uses 1 spool). Great for hemming, but not great for sewing pleats!