There went that idea.

**Erisianmonkey** · 19th May 07, 08:03 AM

Ah the best laid plans. Having run into what I thought was a great fabric deal, I made plans to construct a pinstripe kilt suit. I posted the idea to Xmarks. I dissected an old suit jacket to learn how to put a jacket together. I cut a swatch of fabric and tested how it would take stitches. Every light on the board was green and I was excited. This morning I started cutting the fabric for the kilt and washed it to pre-shrink it, as the tag on the roll in the store said 100% cotton. I removed said fabric from the washer, ironed it, and began to roll a hem. I completed the first line of stitching in one section of the fabric and held it up to inspect it. DISASTER!!!! There were enough waves to make a surfer drool. I am waffling somewhere between devastated and furious. I'm pretty much heartbroken that the wonderful pinstripe kilt suit that I was going to have will not be. I am furious that the stretch in this fabric did not show up until I had cut and washed a major portion of it. (just over 4 yards, or 150 inches to be precise.) I realize that it has to be my fault somewhere along the line, but

**ccga3359** · 19th May 07, 08:13 AM

Did you not wash it before cutting it? Cotton shrinks it should be washed several times before cutting. I'm also thinking that cotton shouldn't actually be used for the purpose you intended, as it's not wrinkle resistent. One shouldn't have wrinkes in his kilt suit, Dude. Sorry.

**Dreadbelly** · 19th May 07, 08:52 AM

There are no mistakes... Just opportunities to do things differently the next time.

**Erisianmonkey** · 19th May 07, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Did you not wash it before cutting it? Cotton shrinks it should be washed several times before cutting. I'm also thinking that cotton shouldn't actually be used for the purpose you intended, as it's not wrinkle resistent. One shouldn't have wrinkes in his kilt suit, Dude. Sorry.

I realize that cotton was a bad choice now. I'm afraid I had sticker vision. As I still have 8 yards left uncut, what I will be using this fabric for now is a pinstripe druid style robe. (insert pause for the obligatory snickering and Harry Potter geek jokes) Yes, like they wear in the HP books. (NOT like the movies!) I've been wearing robes off and on for about 16 years now (before anyone ever even heard of JKR or HP, and have needed a new one, so this is a perfect opportunity to put the old "lemons" axiom into action. Yes, my decision was influenced by the thought of Cornelius Fudge's wizard robes. I always thought they sounded really cool. (Though the erstwhile minister himself is quite the, erm, prat.) Who knows, I may even wear my creation to go see OOTP when it comes out this summer- I'll get a lot fewer funny looks than any other time I wear it, I think.

**Dreadbelly** · 19th May 07, 09:25 AM

I would totally wear a flowing black hooded cloak. Robes? Maybe. Depends on the cut.

I am kinda, well, SHORT. Makes it hard to wear stuff like that.

**ccga3359** · 19th May 07, 09:32 AM

You are not alone EM I bought 4 yds of cotton digi camo on ebay to make an xkilt. I feeling it will be high maintenace even for a hack around kilt. Go for the robe Dude but didn't Minister Fudge also wear a lime green bowler, oh wait that's another current thread.

**Erisianmonkey** · 19th May 07, 09:55 AM

Considering the round shape of my face, you'd never catch me in a bowler.

**ChattanCat** · 19th May 07, 06:27 PM

Sorry dude, wool is the material of choice for kilts, or Poly/Rayon.
W

**Dreadbelly** · 19th May 07, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Sorry dude, wool is the material of choice for kilts, or Poly/Rayon.
W

I disagree. Hemp and leather also make for excellent kilts, and I am betting bamboo fabric will make for an awesome tropical weather kilt.

**Erisianmonkey** · 19th May 07, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Sorry dude, wool is the material of choice for kilts, or Poly/Rayon.
W

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly

I disagree. Hemp and leather also make for excellent kilts, and I am betting bamboo fabric will make for an awesome tropical weather kilt.

And I have made kilts from 100% cotton bull denim and mediumweight cotton duck. Steve over at Freedom Kilts makes kilts out of polycot and 100% cotton every day. Yes, if given my choice of material, I will take PV any day. But as far as wool goes, I choose not to have much wool around the house as my wife is very allergic to wool. (She borrowed my beret once without realizing it was wool until she had a rash across her forehead. I was torn between laughing at her for not realizing it was wool and feeling sorry for her.) I am certain I will have several wool kilts eventually, as it is the only economical way to get certain tartans, but for the majority of my kilts I will be going with alternative materials.