Kilt inspired Skirt (help please!)

**KiltShot** · 10th January 10, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

If you are feeling clever, you might work it so that one of the front aprons is pleated and one flat, so that by closing it one way you have what looks like a standard kilted skirt; while closing it the other way would give you a skirt pleated all around.M

If with the apron on top it opened on your right, and with the pleats on top it opened on your left, wouldn't that make it an ambisexual kilt? Cool! Almost like when a couple buys one set of pajamas and the man wears the bottom and the woman wears the top, but with the kilt they would have to take turns.

**Standard** · 10th January 10, 08:11 PM

Ali first let me say welcome back, we've missed you. Since I have no experience sewing a kilt I'll just add my comment that the suggestion of one apron pleated and the other not pleated sounds like a good way to go. It would certainly add a bit of versatility to the garment, and would (I think) help cut out some of the bulk in the front. Can't wait to see the pictures of what you come up with.

**Dixiecat** · 11th January 10, 08:57 AM

http://www.whirlingturban.com/circleskirts.htm

What makes me think that this is actually a circle skirt joined to the shaped yoke is that the hem seems to be very full. Compare the hem with the hipline which is quite form fitting and the skirt part seems almost smooth at the seam line there.

I can see why you want to copy it. It's a lovely skirt.

**ali8780** · 11th January 10, 09:16 AM

thanks Dixiecat, I'll look into that...

**Alan H** · 11th January 10, 12:02 PM

I have to say that the pic of the skirt you saw that you really liked, is **really** nice. I like it a lot. I think what you make is going to be a knockout.

**ali8780** · 11th January 10, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

I have to say that the pic of the skirt you saw that you really liked, is **really** nice. I like it a lot. I think what you make is going to be a knockout.

Aww, thanks Alan! I hope I do it justice --wish me luck!

**lethearen** · 11th January 10, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by ali8780

Well, I just made up the muslin "practice skirt," and... um... I think it will be ok, I wasn't in love with the muslin skirt, but then again, I basically just threw it together. I didn't press the pleats all the way down which made it really pouffy. So I'm hoping that when I get the wool and press the pleats all the way down it will lay a little bit better. Anyone have experience with working with a muslin first and liking the real version better? I could use the encouragement

I'm far from an expert on the subject and it's been years since I did any actual garment work... but I have made mock-ups out of muslin to get a feel for the shape and fit. So I can pretty much guarantee that you'll like the real version better

In my experience the muslin never holds right and never hangs right. Of course part of the reason could just be because in making a mock-up I would do a pretty haphazard job just to get an idea if the pieces actually fit

The other being muslin is a cheap and light fabric, and ultimately not the fabric intended for the design. It's amazing how much difference that alone makes.

I'm sure you'll find that you're going to make a beautiful skirt

**vorpallemur** · 11th January 10, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

http://www.whirlingturban.com/circleskirts.htm

What makes me think that this is actually a circle skirt joined to the shaped yoke is that the hem seems to be very full. Compare the hem with the hipline which is quite form fitting and the skirt part seems almost smooth at the seam line there.

I can see why you want to copy it. It's a lovely skirt.

Yeah, I trhink dixiecat is right. Fitted, shaped, yoke, with a cut-out circle skirt attached to the bottom.

**ali8780** · 11th January 10, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by lethearen

I'm far from an expert on the subject and it's been years since I did any actual garment work... but I have made mock-ups out of muslin to get a feel for the shape and fit. So I can pretty much guarantee that you'll like the real version better

In my experience the muslin never holds right and never hangs right. Of course part of the reason could just be because in making a mock-up I would do a pretty haphazard job just to get an idea if the pieces actually fit

The other being muslin is a cheap and light fabric, and ultimately not the fabric intended for the design. It's amazing how much difference that alone makes.

I'm sure you'll find that you're going to make a beautiful skirt

you have no idea how much better that makes me feel--thanks

It's the first time I have ever made a muslin first

**ChattanCat** · 11th January 10, 08:01 PM

First, I have not made much on a sewing machine. I have made a tartan vest and didn't want to use the tartan material as my prototype. I made a muslin vest to check the fit and learn how to really do the vest before embarking on the tartan material. Worked out great too. Good luck.