Wanting to make a kilt from recycled jeans.

[James Byous]

I agree with Anne. You'll need several more pairs to make pleats. I suggest you hit the local Goodwill store.

[Farlander]

Mike, have you looked at the most excellent X-Kilt Manual by Alan H? If not, check out:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ownload-20085/

Still, as already stated, you will probably need some more fabric.

[SteveB]

First. Hello and a warm Celtic from Boston, Massachusetts.

Second> Like the others, I also say that you will need more fabric. I suggest that if you are near a fabric store, keep an eye on the remainders bin. (A.K.A. "discontinued" fabrics.)

I did get a half bolt of wide denim for $ 1.49 yd. 70 cotton/30 polyester. My sewing machine and I made a semi-traditional knife pleated kilt.
With the denim, I laid out and basted the pleats, tacked the fell, and took the whole project down to the cleaners, where I was able to lay it out and have the press applied. I took home a very well pressed kilt in progress. The sewing machine made short work of sewing in the pleats, the edging on the apron, the liner (a piece of cotton canvas) and then the fun of straps and buckles.

To be frugal, I made a few visits to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other charity shops in the area. I came up with a bunch of girls belts, pink, all the same width and buckles, in about three very tiny lengths. I recall four in each size. They were heavily dyed black, then formed into the straps for my kilt.

Including a fresh spool of thread, the total cost for making the kilt was $ 18.23 including local sales tax.

Fair warning, the makers of denim jeans are not great about following the line of the fabric. My attempt at making a kilt out of unwanted jeans chewed up twelve garments of very large sizes. The kilt is not very good, and is reserved for mucking the barn.

Slainte,
Steve