X-Kilt in tartan? Good or bad idea?

[ardchoille]

Make the "X-Kilt" out of the solid cloth. That will be your learning kilt. If you mess it up, don't stress. go get some more cheap stuff and make another one. By that point, you'll have the basic idea.

Then, if you like how that worked out, make a Box-Pleat kilt out of the MacGregor. But don't make it an X-Kilt. For example, don't topstitch the pleats on the MacGregor, like you do on the X-Kilt....and don't live or die on the 3-something inch pleat width of the X-Kilt. Use a pleat width that works for the tartan size. Make a full-width apron, not the narrow X-Kilt apron....

Unless you just HAVE to have a MacGregor, modern X-Kilt. I mean, it' s your kilt, do what you want. BUT

The X-Kilt is for LEARNING....and when you're done you have something to wear.

I feel a rant coming on.

Yep, I was planning on making those adjustments. Also planning to add straps and buckles.. and possibly cut away some of the pleating in the fell area and add a liner. If you cut away some of the pleating in the fell area, it's easy to hide the left strap hole in a pleat.

Wait.. is this the basics of how a Matt Newsome kilt is constructed?

[sydnie7]

Yep, I was planning on making those adjustments. Also planning to add straps and buckles.. and possibly cut away some of the pleating in the fell area and add a liner. If you cut away some of the pleating in the fell area, it's easy to hide the left strap hole in a pleat.

Wait.. is this the basics of how a Matt Newsome kilt is constructed?

Two things: not sure that any fell area material is trimmed on a box-pleat. Purpose of trimming is to reduce bulk that collects there in a knife-pleat 8-yarder. Box pleats use less yardage, hence less bulk in the area, hence less or no need to trim.

And Matt has a SUPER way of installing left strap/buckle INSIDE the kilt, no need for cutting a hole. Check the last picture at this link.
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

Best of luck and let us see how it goes! I'm working on a knife-pleat just now but have a length of "fashion tartan" destined for boxes.

[ardchoille]

Two things: not sure that any fell area material is trimmed on a box-pleat. Purpose of trimming is to reduce bulk that collects there in a knife-pleat 8-yarder. Box pleats use less yardage, hence less bulk in the area, hence less or no need to trim.

And Matt has a SUPER way of installing left strap/buckle INSIDE the kilt, no need for cutting a hole. Check the last picture at this link.
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

Best of luck and let us see how it goes! I'm working on a knife-pleat just now but have a length of "fashion tartan" destined for boxes.

Wow, that is nice the way he does the left strap and buckle.. I'll have to do that as it's much easier. And thanks for the tip about trimming the bulk in a box pleated kilt.. looks like I won't have to do that after all.

Are these forums great or what?

[Alan H]

Matts method for the buckle on the left is da bomb. I make all my kilts that way, now, except for X-Kilts which have a button/buttonhole over there.. It's a ton easier than the "usual" method.

You don't usually cut out the excess in the fell in a box pleat kilt because they use so much less material than an "8-yard" tartan kilt that you don't have the bulk up in the small of your back/top of your rump. IT's not necessary.

Personally, I have several six-yard knife-pleat kilts out of 13 ounce and 10.5 ounce material and I didn't cut out the fell on them, either. I did cut the fell out of the three "8 yard" kilts that I've made, though, and I plan to do so when I finally sit down for my ultimate kilt, when I get the weathered MacNaughton from Fraser and Kirkbright.

[ardchoille]

Well, I decided to try to make a box pleated kilt in tartan. Here is what I have so far:

Started out with 5 yards (23" width) of MacGregor modern:


Pleating:


Better shot of pleating:


I really didn't think the pleating to stripe was going to look very good, but it actually looks nice.

Next.. sewing. Anyone got a book on patience?