Kilt pins?

[sharpdressedscot]

OK, I'm thinking of making my own kilt pins, but I don't know how or where to start or what I'll need...

any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

[Bugbear]

It all depends on what kind of duhicky you are using for the front of the kilt pin, but let me throw out some ideas.

I have an iron skeleton key that belonged to my grandmother, and I hold it on with an AlNiCo5 bar magnat out of a humbucker pickup... you know for a guitar. That was my first kilt pin.
I also have a Toro maskot thing from highschool that went on a neclace. That is held on by a safetypin at the top where the necklace would go through, but I could probably hold that on with a magnet too.
You can buy pen backs from craft stores and put them on to your fronts with epoxy or something like that. Back when I used to polish stones, I used two-part epoxy, but they have all kinds of stuff for that now a days.

You could use the tie tack style thing for a kilt pin, but it tends to stick out in the back a little more than I like.

I think a lot of kilt pins have similar attachment-back things to those buttons with sayings on them... A button wouldn't be too bad of an idea for a casual style kilt pin now that I think about it...

Hope that helps.

[BEEDEE]

Use the Search this forum feature. There are several threads on DIY Kilt pins that members have made, with photos and instructions.

Brian

[Bugbear]

I should add that I don't have any good pictures of the kilt pins I talked about. I do have a picture of a zebra kilt pin that Moosedog sent to me up in the gallery in the accessories section right at the moment. I'm not sure how long I'll leave it up there.

But basicly if you see something that you think would make an interesting kilt pin, like an old Roman coin or something like that, you should be able to stick a pin back of some sort or another on it and use it. That's where looking around at craft stores and places like that will be needed...
You might try a small see shell, or for a solid color kilt, safetypin on a tarten swatch ribbon. Try to get the curved quilter safetypins if you can. All kinds of things are potential kilt pins.

It's a little on the heavy side, but you might take one of those ZZ Top key chain, and see if it will stick on a magnet... That might work. Like I said, you could do all kinds of things.

[cavscout]

A kilt pin is a perfect item to make your outfit unique to you, so I feel kilt pins should represent or symbolize something about you. Have a peak at some of Robin's pins at www.kiltgoodies.com for some very unique ideas.

You could start by determining the method you want to use to attach the pin to the kilt. Most use a pin fastener of some sort. Others have used magnets. Once you determine the size and method of the attachment device you can start looking around for items that present the image you want that could be attached or easily modified to the fastener.

Size (length and width) may be the biggest factor to me. I prefer long narrow pins no bigger than 1" x 3" or 4". You find a great one about the size of a cap badge or something smaller.

The other factor to me is weight. I don't have a lot of issues with wind lifting the apron where I live so I prefer pins that don't put a lot of weight on the fabric. But you may be able to get by with something as heavy as 3 oz. maybe a bit more.

Of course all of the above is just my thought process, you may choose to start with the decoration item and figure out how to attach it after.

[sharpdressedscot]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[Tartan Hiker]

For attachments, I will use either magnets or post-and-clasp fasteners, both attached with epoxy to the back of the pin.

I've got all kinds of pins...I really like to make my own gear whenever possible. I can't get to my photos right now, but some things I've used include:

polished antler
key fob medallions with the loop ground off
ceramic discs with St. Andrews cross made at the pottery shop
Star Trek communicator pin

I'm working on one right now that will be an oval piece of wood with a Native American flint arrowhead inset flush with the wood.

Unusual kilt pins are a great way to "mix cultures" and let a bit more of your own personality show. I think it adds a sense of individuality to the outfit, and tells the "viewer" that you aren't just wearing a cookie-cutter "costume".

[Panache]

sds

For attachments, I will use either magnets or post-and-clasp fasteners, both attached with epoxy to the back of the pin.

This bit of information is very important! Don't skip using two part epoxy and substitute super glue instead. I favor using multiple individual single pin backs instead of a single long pin wih clasp on my pins.

Cheers

Jamie

[Bugbear]

There is also polymer clay that can be formed into the kilt pin and around the attachment duhicky. Most of that is then baked in the oven... I don't usually work with that kind of ceramic, but for small things like kilt pins I think it would be fairly usable. If I remember correctly, there is matalic looking pollymer clay: silver, gold...Might be another option to look into.