DUtch DPM camokilt

[marcovp]

This is a cross post from kiltforum.org.

I would like show some pictures of a kilt I made last Friday. A couple of days before I bought 3,5 meters double width of Dutch DPM camouflage fabric. With 11oz it is a nice heavy fabric. I started working at 12.00 o'clock. The kilt was almost ready at 22.30. Saturday morning I only had to attach 1 strap and it was done. It took me about 10 hours total to build the kilt. Material costs was about 20 euro (15 euro for the fabric and 2,50 for the buckle leaving 2,50 for the sewing needs like needles and thread).

OK, here are the pictures.


Here's the fabric drying. I washed it before use to make sure that the kilt won't shrink when it is finished.



The fabric in the livingroom, ready for cutting.



After calculating it was time to serge the fabric.


Making the first seem. Notice I taped a needle box to the machine. This makes sewing in a straight line a lot easier.

After the seem I got carried away and completely forgot to make pictures. So we go straight on to the finished product.



I used one closing strap. Under the strap I made another piece of strap which is sewn to the Molle system specifications (1 inch strap stitched every 1,5 inch). This strap will be used for removable pouches or other accessories.



The Molle strap. I have one  spare loop. This can be used for attaching a knive.



Pressing the pleats is easier witch the ironing board completely down on the ground.



Front view of the kilt. I am wearing the kilt on my hips. The length is 58 centimeters. The aprons are 44 cm to give it a more casual look.



Back view.I used a center box pleat with knife pleats towards the center pleat. I believe this is a Kingussie style pleat.



Side view showing the pleats. The first pleats on either side are 10 cm deep. The other pleats are 7,5 cm deep. Spacing between the pleats is 3 cm, so each pleat uses 18 cm. The amount of fabric used fo the pleating is about 3,65 m. With the aprons about 4,5 meters of fabric is used.

I hope you like the kilt. I will be making some more in not to near future. This is the third kilt I made. I made another more traditional kilt, and a kilted skirt for my wife. The next time I make a kilt I will try to make more pictures of the actual process of sewing.

[Aldisimo]

A special from all the DIYers here!

Your kilt looks great! Since you didn't topstitch the pleats, I hope you'll let us know how well they hold their creases after laundering.

[Pleater]

That looks to be a well fitting kilt - though I have to say that I prefer the look when worn a little higher - it is more flattering too. That pocket looks neat and well made.

The style is reverse Kingussie, and ideal for a kilt likely to be worn outdoors in rough country as it tends not to snag as much as a kilt with the pleats turned forwards.

I must make a note that the pattern is Dutch - I have a length of it in my 'awaiting atterntion' heap.

I look forward to seeing your work in future.

Anne the Pleater

[Canuck]

nice job but I think you might want to rethink the closure to a male left to right instead of what appears to be right to left as in a female closure

[marcovp]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

The pictures are taken using a mirror, since I did not have a tripod at hand. In real life the closure is on the right side of the kilt. I did not think of it while posting the pictures.

@ Aldisimo: I have made another kilt without the topstitching and this works out alright. The only thing I have to do is after I hang the kilt to dry, I re-arrange all the pleats and the I secure each pleat with a clothespin. After the kilt is dry a quick iron will be sufficient to get a nice look. It is a little work, but to be honest I just don't like the pleats to be stitched down all the way.

[Casey_in_Carolina]

The style is reverse Kingussie, and ideal for a kilt likely to be worn outdoors in rough country as it tends not to snag as much as a kilt with the pleats turned forwards.

Anne the Pleater

That's a really interesting idea. Being new to the world of kilts, I had no idea there were different ways to pleat other than a standard Knife or Box pleat. Is it possible to do this reverse Kingussie style with a tartan? I was just thinking that while I'm saving up for a traditional wool kilt, I might find something else to wear when my USAK Casual isn't appropriate. With what you've mentioned here, it being appropriate for outdoors activities in rough country, I could picture wearing a kilt while scouting in the woods.

Goodness, one Jones taken care of, and three more pop up....

Casey

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

Fantastic job!

[Tartan Hiker]

Looks very good to me. I've been considering ordering some fabric in one of the non-US military patterns, and now I think I'm leaning toward the Dutch pattern!

Welcome to the forum.

[Glaisne]

DPM is a fascinating pattern. So is the American Woodland pattern (non-digi).

Very nice looking kilt!

[SteveB]

Nice looking kilt and welcome to the forum.
Slainte