How long does it take to make a kilt?

**bricelythgoe** · 29th April 10, 03:42 PM

Question for all you experienced kilt makers out there:

How long does it take you to make an 8 yard kilt? I would love to hear the difference between the time it takes for a hand made kilt versus one that is machine sewn.

Also, does the matter matter? For example, does it take longer for someone to make one out of wool than it does to make one out of the Marton Mills PV?

(I am assuming you are making a knife pleated, traditional 8 yard kilt. Obviously some can take longer, but an average time is sufficient.)

Thanks!

Brice

**Paul Henry** · 29th April 10, 03:52 PM

It's not always easy to give exact timings! Things like working out the sett can take some time in itself!
I expect to get a kilt made from the bolt to sewing on the label in a comfortable 26-30 hours,this for a handsewn one. Working on a Dalgleish wool is nicer than a Marton Mills wool but this might be just a personal thing. I generally make a kilt over several days, I can't hand sew for a complete day without a break, at least my eyes can't take it!

**slohairt** · 29th April 10, 04:18 PM

It takes me about 25 hours to make an 8-yard knife pleated kilt. Obviously this can vary because of a complicated sett or a large individual. I find the heavier fabric a bit easier to work with than light weight. I rarely work with PV but it is a different beast altogether than wool especially when steaming/shaping. Also, ordering tartan from Mills like the House of Edgar who offer most of their tartans in single width means a bit of labour is saved by not having to join two pieces of fabric.

**bricelythgoe** · 29th April 10, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

I expect to get a kilt made from the bolt to sewing on the label in a comfortable 26-30 hours,this for a handsewn one.

Originally Posted by slohairt

It takes me about 25 hours to make an 8-yard knife pleated kilt.

Since these are hand sewn, how much time does using a machine save on making the kilt? I realize the quality may not be as nice, but I would just like to know. Would it cut it in half?

Brice

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 29th April 10, 06:29 PM

If it's properly steeked canvassed and lined by hand it takes around 15-18 hours for me to make a machine sewn kilt. (I do the waistband and pleats by machine.)

**Riverkilt** · 29th April 10, 08:52 PM

Kathy Lare once told me she sews two to three kilts a week. I take a week to mean about a 40 hour week but don't know for sure. She is a full time kiltmaker and hand sews in the complex way taught at the Keith Kilt School in Scotland. Of course time would depend on the size of the kilt, and the type of pleating - the traditional military box pleating she is trained to do takes longer than regular knife pleats.

So, don't know if that's helpful or not.

**KiltedKnome** · 30th April 10, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by bricekolob

Since these are hand sewn, how much time does using a machine save on making the kilt? I realize the quality may not be as nice, but I would just like to know. Would it cut it in half?

Brice

I don't think using a sewing machine means the quality of the kilt is not as good. Quality is a reflection of attention to detail and precision, and an appreciation and grasp of the construction differences between machine sewn and handsewn. A kilt constructed using a sewing machine can be high quality or not, just as some handsewn kilts are high quality, and some are not.

From what I have observed at Freedom Kilts, the time required to make a kilt (using predominantly machine sewing) varies. Freedom Kilts can add tailored inset pockets which can add hours. For tartan fabrics the pleating decision affects how much time is required, as does the thickness/weight and the origin of the wool. For cotton and polyester/cotton fabrics, different techniques have to be used which dictate additional time at the sewing machine. Then add the size of the person into the mix, which affects amount of tapering, number of pleats, etc.

**Ancienne Alliance** · 1st May 10, 02:49 AM

It takes Lady Chrystel between 20 to 26 hours depending of the pleating, the tartan, the gent's size.

Best,

Robert

**bonnie heather** · 1st May 10, 04:10 AM

It takes me 20 hours or more to make a traditional hand stitched knife pleated kilt. When I started as an apprentice, it took much longer. I was taught to do it right, work carefully, make tiny invisible stitches, and match the tartan perfectly. It's important to me, even though it takes time. Now, after several years, it's second nature and goes smoothly, thus a little faster.

I hear that some people can make a hand stitched kilt in only ten hours, but I don't know how that's humanly possible.

I tried making a child's kilt with a sewing machine. but it was much harder to perfectly line up the tartan stripes on the felling, and very frustrating. I re-did the pleat sewing over and over, and came to the conclusion that hand stitching is faster and better for me, because I can get it perfectly by hand.

**Farlander** · 1st May 10, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by bonnie heather

...
I hear that some people can make a hand stitched kilt in only ten hours, but I don't know how that's humanly possible.
...

It does not seem humanly possible! Yet, according to master kilt maker Elsie Stuehmeyer, that was a requirement to become a journeyman kilt maker at Thomas Gordon & Sons. Truly amazing!