X-Kilt: Sew Your Own, manual available for download

[michaelbeeman]

OK, you folks have got me about ready to try this. I've just ordered 5 German Army Snow ponchos in hopes of harvesting that crazy snow camo material (100% cotton is all I know). At $20 for 5 I thought it worth the risk, otherwise I'll buy some material specifically for it.

[Alan H]

Mods, I suppose if by now we haven't heard any heat from these X-Kilt people...

http://www.x-kilts.com/

or these X-kilt people

http://www.rjmccarthy.com


referenced on this site by the following quote...

On the lighter side, R.J. McCarthy Ltd., the country's largest maker of school uniforms, has devised the X-Kilt, which incorporates a pair of plaid shorts into the design of the kilt. The advantage of the X-Kilt is twofold: it is impossible for tween girls to roll up the kilt at the waist to make a miniskirt and, therefore, it prevents them from displaying their thong underwear at school.

So look guys. I don't want to see no pics of any X Marks X-Kilts rolled up so that we're seeing your thong underwear. You got that Riverkilt? BeeDee? MOWGLI, Tartan Hiker????? NO THONG UNDERWEAR, no matter HOW much the F-H.C.A.G. and Cloves and Cynthia ask to see it.

Oh......I meant to say, that seeing as we haven't had any bad feedback from any of them, might as well make this post a sticky. I mean, it's been over a year, now.

[Jake_S]

So look guys. I don't want to see no pics of any X Marks X-Kilts rolled up so that we're seeing your thong underwear. You got that Riverkilt? BeeDee? MOWGLI, Tartan Hiker????? NO THONG UNDERWEAR, no matter HOW much the F-H.C.A.G. and Cloves and Cynthia ask to see it.

Must burn out the image!

Can't sleep, Tartan Hiker in thong will get me!

[Jake_S]

Oh, almost forgot: Can we say "STICKY"? I knew you could

Hint hint, c'mon Mods

[kmehrtens]

I am looking into making my first kilt using the X-Kilt pattern/manual. I would however like to add two front pockets & possibly a single rear pocket (like pants) so I can wear the kilt to work. Does anyone have any info and/or pictures on how to go about this?

Thanks in Advance,

[Alan H]

I am looking into making my first kilt using the X-Kilt pattern/manual. I would however like to add two front pockets & possibly a single rear pocket (like pants) so I can wear the kilt to work. Does anyone have any info and/or pictures on how to go about this?

Thanks in Advance,

My two cents....make a plain vanilla X-Kilt first. Once you've made one, you've got the idea in your head, AND you will have developed some rudimentary sewing skills. Put those pockets in X-Kilt #2.

In my own mind I can think of how I might make side, slash pockets, but I have to admit, how to make an internal back pocket has me stumped. Honestly, I'd probably just make an external pocket, like a pair of blue jeans, and maybe put some folds in it to mimic the box pleating. Then I'd tack it on the outside. A REAL internal rear pocket, I suspect, is a mess of detail work.

[blame the kilt]

alan h,

we have 4 kilts in various stages based on ur manual. the baby kilt is about done. your directions have made my hubby happy, since he directly benefits from it. as soon as baby kilt is finished, i suspect we will be making him another in a digi camo. thanks again for ur hard work.

blame the kilt

[Jake_S]

My two cents....make a plain vanilla X-Kilt first. Once you've made one, you've got the idea in your head, AND you will have developed some rudimentary sewing skills. Put those pockets in X-Kilt #2.

In my own mind I can think of how I might make side, slash pockets, but I have to admit, how to make an internal back pocket has me stumped. Honestly, I'd probably just make an external pocket, like a pair of blue jeans, and maybe put some folds in it to mimic the box pleating. Then I'd tack it on the outside. A REAL internal rear pocket, I suspect, is a mess of detail work.

Alan, I think making a rear pocket would not be that difficult. You would want to sew an outline of the pocket opening in the fell area, cut out the material for the opening, flip the kilt (so the inside is facing out), and sew on a pouch pocket (similar to your cargo pockets, but minus the pleat) to kilt, and you can then sew a flap on if you wanted to.

I might try that in the near future.

Jake

[Alan H]

Alan, I think making a rear pocket would not be that difficult. You would want to sew an outline of the pocket opening in the fell area, cut out the material for the opening, flip the kilt (so the inside is facing out), and sew on a pouch pocket (similar to your cargo pockets, but minus the pleat) to kilt, and you can then sew a flap on if you wanted to.

I might try that in the near future.

Jake

Yeah, but if you look at the Freedom kilts pockets, you don't see any stitching on the outside of the kilt where the inside pouch is sewn to the body of the kilt. Steve must attach in only up at the top, where the "slash" and the fold-over flap are. I can SEE this, I just would have to try it a couple of times before I could really go for it.

But hey, the X-kilt project is all about learning about kilts. So GO for it, tell us/show us what you did and how it worked out!.

[The Wizard of BC]

Jake S,

Remember that the X Kilt is supposed to be fun. Easy and fun. If you want pockets fine but please don't try to do pockets like I do. They are just too complicated to be fun. Unless your idea of fun is banging yourself with hammers or sewing your fingers together.

A hint. If you make the deep pleats under the apron REALLY deep, you can simply just pin the apron at it's proper place then fold the apron back out of the way and sew your pocket shape right into the deep pleat. Then, you can tack the top and bottom of your pocket opening to allow your hand to go in.

For rear pockets make a simple rectangular pocket from scrap fabric. Then cut a slash into the Fell area where you want the pocket to be. Pin the pocket to the inside of the Fell and stitch it into place. Then turn the kilt over to the good side and run a line of zig-zags around the opening to keep the raw edges from fraying.

You can then make up a flap and sew it over to opening.

I hope this helps and I hope Alan isn't too mad at me for messing with his wonderful design.