First Trad Kilt: an ongoing thread

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Ok Barb, I have to ask, does flabby refer to the stiffness of the material (I have been called flabby, but that has an entirely different meaning)? Is Alan working with a material that is more flexible and bendable, or maybe flappy? I know that the cloth I am working with is very pliable, to the point I am not sure I will be able to get it to hold a pleat at all without sewing them down, and I also found it difficult to pleat as you described. Although, I was also trying to adapt your directions as I am left handed, so maybe it was partly that as well.

[Barb T]

Hi

Being lefthanded makes it harder, because the directions are written for a right-handed person. Somewhere on this forum, though, someone has described how they did it left handed, and they were quite successful.

I guess what I meant by "flabby" wasn't so much flappy as soft and a bit stretchy (the difference between a worn flannel shirt and a new, stiff, unwashed one). Kilting tartan has a rather stiff "hand", and, while it does stretch on the bias, it isn't squirrely to work with. Even folded on the bias, kilting tartan doesn't "skooch" when you try to stitch it. Ah, hell, I'm not doing a very good job describing this. If you had a piece of fabric that was loosely woven, the threads in the weave can slide around, making it harder to work with. I've also never tried to make a kilt from plain weave (rather than the twill that tartan's woven in), and I don't know whether that is harder to pleat. I suppose it could be.

Don't know if this helps or not.

Barb

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Barb,

Actually, that does make it clearer in my mind. The reference to new and old flannel is a perfect visual. And that does make since why the material I am using is a little difficult to pleat. Glad it is plain and not a tartan, all I have to do is get the pleats to the right size and taper. It would be a real pain if I also had to match the pattern and keep it straight will sewing the pleats. Having a stiffer material would definitely make this easier. I was also surprised that you suggested pinning perpendicular to the pleat. When I do that, the material is so soft and loose, that it falls right off the pins. I have to pin parallel.

I will have to look for the instructions for a left hander, although for this one, I gave it up after one pleat and am just machine stitching it!

[Southern Breeze]

KCW, have you considerd starching the fabric to stiffen it?

[Barb T]

That's actually a great idea. If you do this, try to find the liquid starch that comes in a bottle. Soak the fabric in a starch solution, and then hang it over a shower rod to dry. You'll need to experiment with the strength. It's possible to wind up with fabric that's stiff as a board! And you want something that's stabilized but not actually stiff for kilting.

I've done this with silky fabric that's too sleezy to sew easily. A little starch, and it sews like a breeze without skewing, skooching, or stretching. The only kicker is that you have to be able to wash it at the end, or you've got a pretty uncomfortable garment to wear!

I've never tried spray starch for this, but it might be just the ticket. You could spray a little, let it dry, and add more if you needed.

Just as a funny aside, my daughter is in Air Force ROTC. and they had a class on how to iron your Air Force shirt properly using an iron and spray starch. So, she dutifully bought a big can of Niagara spray starch. When the can is turned just right, it's possible to see the name of the starch without all of the 3 uprights on the "N" in Niagara. Her roommate came in, saw the can, and asked, "Why do you have Viagra in a can??"

Cheers,

B

[mkmound]

. . . "Why do you have Viagra in a can??"

Cheers,

B

Barb, that's GREAT!!!! :razz: :razz:

(I had almost just taken a sip when I read that! )

Mark

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

That's actually a great idea. If you do this, try to find the liquid starch that comes in a bottle. Soak the fabric in a starch solution, and then hang it over a shower rod to dry. You'll need to experiment with the strength. It's possible to wind up with fabric that's stiff as a board! And you want something that's stabilized but not actually stiff for kilting.

I've done this with silky fabric that's too sleezy to sew easily. A little starch, and it sews like a breeze without skewing, skooching, or stretching. The only kicker is that you have to be able to wash it at the end, or you've got a pretty uncomfortable garment to wear!

I've never tried spray starch for this, but it might be just the ticket. You could spray a little, let it dry, and add more if you needed.

Just as a funny aside, my daughter is in Air Force ROTC. and they had a class on how to iron your Air Force shirt properly using an iron and spray starch. So, she dutifully bought a big can of Niagara spray starch. When the can is turned just right, it's possible to see the name of the starch without all of the 3 uprights on the "N" in Niagara. Her roommate came in, saw the can, and asked, "Why do you have Viagra in a can??"

Cheers,

B

STOP! I am glad I had swallowed the wee dram I just sipped! That is priceless Barb! The starching idea is a good one. Not sure if this fabric is that sleazy! :-D If so, my wife might not have let me buy it! Anyway, I think that I would have to use a whole bottle of spray starch to stiffen it significantly, but I have only ever used the Niagara spray starch, maybe something else would work better.

[Southern Breeze]

LOL One of these days I'm going to learn not to drink and read posts.That caught me with a mouth full of coffee. :smile:

[Sherry]

ROFL Great little story, Barb!

Great thinking on the starch, Southern. That's done in heirloom sewing to make delicate fabrics & laces easier to handle.

Sherry

[Alan H]

FORGET Prince Albert in a can, I want Viagra! It's the new millenium joke!