Call for suggestions on leftover tartan fabric

[Barb T]

FYI - the little pieces that you mentioned in your original post were left over from when the kiltmaker cut out the excess fabric in the pleats behind the fell. The reason that you don't have as many as you have pleats in your kilt is probably because the kiltmaker used some of them for the buckle tabs (and might have used more than 3 if he/she botched one, which happens to me all the time). The kiltmaker might also have used some for flashes and may have kept one for his/her swatch collection.

[tky58]

I went to simplicity.com and looked up a men's vest. At 115 m wide fabric (common commercial width 60 inch) it requires 1.1 m for a small and 1.5 m for a xl (size 48). Yardage requirement is listed on the package back.

good luck.

[Newfoundlander]

Hi All,

Thanks to everyone so far for the great suggestions, I appreciate it!

davidg was right up top, I did use the wrong conversion factor to go from inches to centimetres. I used 1"=1.6cm, which I think is actually for mi to km. I'll reconvert and edit my post up top. My tape measure here only has inches and I'm not very used to thinking imperial

The waitstcoat idea sounds quite interesting for sure! I'll have to check and see if I can find a pattern or a tailor that knows if I have enough fabric. Thanks for that for sure!

I was thinking of cutting the metre block in half down the length and joining it to make a good long scarf as well. I wear one from fall to spring, so I'd get daily wear out of it for 3/4 of the year, and I like that idea.

My sewing skills are practically non-existent, so for me to do it, it was to be dirt dumb, or I find a seamstress

If you think of anything further, by all means, please don't hesitate to post. And many thanks again!

John

[Paul Henry]

From last year, my Christmas decorations
and I make a lavender bag for every client as well...

this year I'm working on patchwork scarves, photos to follow!

[Newfoundlander]

Fantastic!! Thanks to everyone for giving me tons of great ideas for this fabric!

Thanks Barb T for letting me know where these little bit came from, I was always wondering that. I think I'll certainly save a couple of them for extra flashes. Just in case.

I'm really liking that idea of Christmas decorations! I'll have to see what I can do by next year

Here's what I have in mind so far:

The big continuous bit. Either cut lengthwise and joined to make a long thick scarf. Or a 5 button waistcoat not cut on the bias. I'd say there's enough, I'm a 40 regular jacket and a 31" natural waist, 32" trouser waist. I think pairing that with a black or perhaps green backing would look fantastic!

As for the really long skinny bit, I've got a couple ideas I'm tossing about right now. That would work great for those whisky bottle kilts for sure. But I'm thinking if I double it over and sew it down to about 1 3/4" or 2" wide it would make a fantastic guitar strap! I have a brown nylon strap that I could take the ends and stuff from. Daily use there for sure!

As for the little bits. Some will be saved for future flashes, some will go to Christmas decorations, and some will go for beer bottle kilts

Awesome, thanks again everyone so much!

Cheers,
John