Success!

[Andrew]

Yes. I shall always
wage my battle to /
destroy the evil forces of /
The Decepticons.



/Robot in disguise

To funny. A belated Welcome from me. Good to have you here, enjoy and try not to get to hook. This forum does things to you.

[Alan H]

Hello gents. Alan H here from California. I've decided that I'm going to try this.

I figure I'll make a plain black kilt first. I can wear it to concerts. I play in a symphony orchestra that tries to be a bit non traditional, and the manager is always after us to wear something black with a "touch 'o color". I figure a black kilt and a white shirt with a colored tie and colored flashes with white socks should do it.

Besides, I can just wear the thing around, you know?

I also play in a jazz/celtic fusion band, and the guys have been after me to look more celtic, so the black kilt should work for that, too. If I don't botch it unmercifully I'll try a dark tartan of some sort for kilt #2.

I'm not a musician for a living, though. I do IT support and spend a lot of time crawling under peoples' desks and fixing their computers. Don't think I'll be wearing a kilt to work any time soon!

Alan

[GMan]

Alan,

A mighty big WELCOME The music part is great, but I do understand making a living part, life is so unfair at times.

Glad you decided to take the plunge into the world we all know as Xmarks, it truly is a great place, even if we are all a bit crazy

Again welcome!

[MDR-V300]

Alan,
I made myself a plain black kilt to start, and I kept the pleats large and deep. It saved a lot of work, almost. The success made me try another kilt within about a week. I made a more traditional-looking kilt out of the Maple Leaf tartan, in a poly/viscose fabric. I used about 6 yards.
I don't know if it was the plaid, or the thinner pleats, but the second one was HARD. Tapering with a tartan is an art form which I have yet to master. I haven't been able to keep the top of it looking half decent, so I just got a bigger belt to hide my tailoring flaws. Hopefully I'll get better with the next one.

So you've got a good plan: go for your solid black one at first, and you'll be fine.

As for wearing one at work... quit your job and do the same thing as a contractor. You can charge extra for the show. Sounds like a winning strategy, with all of the secretaries 'accidentally' breaking their computers more often.

[JazzKiltz]

Hi again Alan,

I've not had the opportunity to wear my kilt on a "legit" gig yet. I don't do too much orchestral work any more, unfortunately, but I'd love to get the chance.

On the topic of making kilts, my wife is quite talented when it comes to "whipping things up" out of various fabrics. She sews really well and, I found out recently, was at one time learning to tailor. After reviewing the kilt-making instructions online and posts here answering questions, she's just about got me talked into making my next kilt myself (under heavy supervision, of course). Pretty exciting! We'll find some very inexpensive fabric for a test run (after the newspaper version) and if all goes well...

I'm really glad the kiltmakers on this board have no problem answering questions about pleating and such. Very inpressive, indeed!

Mark