How heavy is too heavy?

**Paul Henry** · 22nd October 09, 09:38 AM

26oz... that is very heavy, twice the weight of medium weight, so if you have 4 yards, you'll end up wearing about 8yds equiv!
If it really is that heavy it will be harder to sew and will be a bit more rigid in behavour as well, but it will be interesting to see how it works

**Kilted in Maine** · 22nd October 09, 09:46 AM

Are you planning an arctic expedition?

**Pleater** · 22nd October 09, 10:10 AM

If you have fabric that is 26 oz per running yarn 54 inches wide, then a 4 yard length of it, 24 inch wide will measure - er - just under 3 lb - that should be manageable.

I suggest that if there are no more than 3 layers at any point in the main part of the kilt it should be possible to sew on a waistband by going through the four layers, then fold over and stitch down just through the fold and the top layer of the fabric.

It might be possible to do the majority of the sewing on a machine and only where there are multiple layers sew by hand. It would depend more on how the cloth is woven than the weight, I suspect, as thiner but densely woven stuff is harder to sew than a looser weave, where there is space for the needle to pass through between the strands It might be advisable to machine sew along the edge of the fabric to prevent the weft threads sliding out of the warp if it is a loose weave.

I have some old Army blankets which I keep looking at and thinking that they would make a good Winter weight and really tough outdoor kilt. They would also make a really good coat - and there isn't enough for both garments.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Kid Cossack** · 25th October 09, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

snip!
I suggest that if there are no more than 3 layers at any point in the main part of the kilt it should be possible to sew on a waistband by going through the four layers, then fold over and stitch down just through the fold and the top layer of the fabric.

snip!

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Anne:

"Three layers of wool" has been my ongoing mantra when I sew up kilts. The waistband and aprons are the only places I go higher than that. While it seems odd to some, I find it gives a balanced kilt, regardless of pleating approach (i.e., box pleat, knife pleat, Kinguisse or reverse Kinguisse).