I made a pleated tartan skirt

[AlabamaCelticLass]

Last fall for the 2019 Stone Mountain Highland Games that my husband and I attend, I made a pleated tartan skirt for myself, using this guide written by XMarks member Alan H... http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ownload-64771/

The instructions are very well-written, welcoming and easy to follow. While the skirt turned out pretty good, I still need to get back to it and and add a better closure than just a simple hook and eye. What was funny is, when I wore it to the games, there was the slightest wind that picked up the open edge of the front apron... I learned from experience that kilt pins definitely CAN be a necessity!! Luckily there was no serious fashion faux-pas.


I'm used to pants and skirts sitting closer to my natural waist, rather than riding low on my hips as this one does. I would like to try a different style in the future or figure out a way to alter this one, so that it has higher coverage. Here are some pictures of mine as I wore in in October, as I said it still needs a few tweaks but it was wearable and I was happy with it for the weekend. Friendly, constructive criticism welcome!

1) Pinning and setting the pleats before stitching:



2) Ready for stitching on my vintage Singer 301A sewing machine:



3) Front view, on the hanger:



4) View of pleats, on the hanger:



5) A few of me wearing it (didn't think to get a picture of the pleats with it on):

[neloon]

Congratulations from another Anderson!
Forget kilt pins - they are a menace.

Alan

[AlabamaCelticLass]

Congratulations from another Anderson!
Forget kilt pins - they are a menace.

Alan

Thank you so much! I'm thinking that if I add a couple of small leather straps, like a kilt has, I may not need the pin.

My Anderson ancestor arrived in America in 1699 as a result of a failed trip home to Scotland from the ill-fated Darien colony in South America.

[Pleater]

The reason for your skirt sitting low could be that it requires some sort of strengthening in the waist.
I use some really sturdy webbing materials at the waistline. After attaching the waistband to the outside of the kilt I fold it to the inside over the top of the webbing and secure it.
I make the kilt slightly larger than the required measurement and ease it in to fit onto the webbing as that takes the strain off the fabric of the kilt, which being wool would give over time and with wearing.

When working with lightweight fabrics I add a light weighting tape to the edge of the outer apron, the vertical edge, not the selvedge, sewn into the fold for about 6 inches up from the selvedge. It needs to be heavy enough to keep it down, but not so heavy it flies out or swings around too readily.

Anne the Pleater

[AlabamaCelticLass]

Thank you for the advice, Anne!