Barb's posse

[Phil Wright]

1)I 'looked'
2)Next step is buying the tailor's chalk......
3)Then I'll find the floor

Kiltie, I'm developing a guilt complex

Phil

[Colin]

Got my copy of the book yesterday. I will try an all black version for a friend first, and than once the idea is there, I will attempt my tartan version.

Speaking of which, does anyone have a good source for the buckles and straps? I know it has appeared in the forum before, but it may be nice to have a link here as well.

I have a good link for wool if anyone is interested http://www.thescottishweaver.com/stockwool.html

[Doc Hudson]

Try Tandy Leather or The Leather Factory. I know there are suitable buckles, but you might have to get a piece of leather and cut your own straps.

A local shoe repair shop or saddlery shop would be a good source. And they would cut the straps to order for you.

[beerbecue]

Speaking of which, does anyone have a good source for the buckles and straps? I know it has appeared in the forum before, but it may be nice to have a link here as well.

Try highland xpress, http://highxpress.tripod.com/patterns.html

They have the straps and buckles ready to go. Very nice quality, too. They were much thicker than I had originally anticipated. There are no holes where you need to stitch, so you have to do that yourself. I ended up driving a nail through the strap into a 2x4 - made a perfect little hole for the carpet thread.

For wool blend tartan, check out the prices at http://www.wooltartan.com/tartans5.htm - these are remnant pieces, but plenty there to make several kilts.

I found scottishweaver to be a bit pricey, especially on remnants. I think Piper's Cove, http://www.piperscove.com/, advertises the lowest prices I have seen lately for tartan, but I cannot speak for availability.

You should also check Burnett's & Struth, http://www.burnetts-struth.com/ for tartan remnants. It is very reasonable. Give them a call for the latest availability.

I have made a Hunting Stewart kilt, am finishing a Gordon modern, and am starting a 'tank' in Atlanta Pipe Band. Altogether, I think I have spent no more than $100 on tartan.

I will be buying a new piece for an 8-yarder once I get a new job, and that will also be my first 'to the sett' kilt. I am just very fond of 'to the stripe'.

I should mention, with the 10.5 oz. wool, if there is not a proper kilting selvedge, you may want to make a hem. It may also be necessary for it to hang right. I cannot speak from experience, it is just something to think about. And yes, the 10.5 oz. has a nice price....

[bubba]

Stillwater often has the strap/buckle sets

[beerbecue]

I think the stillwater straps are more expensive for the quality.... A set of three from Highland express is $7.50 for the 1 1/4 inch size, and they are about twice as thick as the straps I had on my stillwater.

Just another $0.02

[kiltie as charged]

The reason that I can do so much sewing is I am not working right now.
I am able to get a lot of sewing done. I spent nearly 12 hours on the pleating and sewing . I am using a marpat material. I figured out the directions after much head scratching and hemming and hawing.

Now that I figured it out I willl be attempting to do the wool that I have.
Wish me luck!

[beerbecue]

When I got to the part on doing the apron shaping, where it shows sewing down the inner pleat I not quite sure about what is ment by permently tacking down the inverted pleat,this is on page 88.Not sure what to tack it to The same goes for the left apronon page 89. BASTE THROUGH THREE THIKNESSES ONLY.

For the inverted pleat - IIRC, I think I tacked it down to 'itself', right at the seam where the last pleat is stitched to the underapron. Make sure it is not visible on the right (correct) side of the kilt.

For the deep pleat - after you fold back the deep pleat, the three layers are made up of the deep pleat and the apron, next to the first pleat. 2 of the layers are the deep pleat folded over itself, and 1 is the apron. You DO NOT baste through to the pleats on the right side of the kilt (the outside).

I hope this helps.....

[kiltie as charged]

Thanks Beerbecue! Iwill give it a try!

[Jerry]

.................................................. ..... you'll come to really appreciate the spiral binding.

A kilt with spiral binding? Now there's something for us to think about

What! You mean your kilts don't have the spiral binding?

I've got one of Barb's books and read through it once for ideas. My next step is to order supplies and on my next day off I'll head out to my local Pendelton overstock/outlet fabric store to see if they might have some fabric that will be suitable. I'm feeling pumped up and positive about the whole project, my wife and daughters however just grin and shake thier heads.

Jamie

I thought that the whole thing about kilts is that they aren't binding!