Newbie Pipers Plaid project

**Nate Brown** · 6th March 12, 05:39 PM

Hi All,
I am embarking on a journey to see if I just might be able to make a kilt or two. It might seem improbable that a 37 year old male would try something like this...but here I am. I'm a piper in my band (Spokane County Firefighters P&D). At a recent piping school I met a woman from Southern California, that was an accomplished kilter for her band. Through a brief conversation with her about kilt making, I because curious. So a few weeks later, and after purchasing The Art of Kiltmaking, and various other supplies, I'm ready to start. I think I will start with a less complicated Pipers Plaid.

As I have come to find, there is very little specific instructions on how to make a Pipers Plaid. So I am going to have to reverse engineer one. Using a pipers plaid I already have, I am able to get the general idea of how the pleats need to go, and how long I will need to make it. I've come up with a pleat layout, and I have basted the full width of the plaid at a couple of spots on one end. Here's a couple of pictures of what I have so far

**Tobus** · 7th March 12, 06:25 AM

I don't see any pictures?

**creagdhubh** · 7th March 12, 07:14 AM

Need photos!

**ChattanCat** · 7th March 12, 07:55 AM

I look forward to your piper's plaid.

I don't use image shack but you may have to "share it" in image shack before we can see the pictures.

Welcome aboard!

**Nate Brown** · 7th March 12, 08:03 AM

OK, now there's a couple of photos (now that I have figured out how to load them). Using the basting technique for the kilt in TAOKM, I have begun basting the plaid. The plaid has pleats and is a 4 yard long, double width, custom tartan. Does anyone think there will be an issue when I eventually steam iron the pleats? I wonder if I will be able to get nice sharp pleat edges with those pleats being so close together. BTW this is my first ever attempt at basting, so it is probably a bit rough. I was just thrilled that I worked out a pleat reveal that makes a pretty good looking plaid.

Nate

**ChattanCat** · 7th March 12, 09:27 AM

You shouldn't have any problems as long as you use heat, steam and pressure. Large sett kilt pleats have lots of material and I have never had a problem. Steam irons will give you a good edge. You can also look into pressing irons that will do a better job but cost a lot.

Cheers,

**serenitylala** · 7th March 12, 09:50 AM

Congrats on making your own kilt!

If you need extra guidance, this is the best book to buy. It's the one used in Elise Stuehmeyer kiltmaking workshops:

The Art of Kiltmaking

http://www.celticdragonpress.com/

**Nate Brown** · 7th March 12, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by serenitylala

Congrats on making your own kilt!

If you need extra guidance, this is the best book to buy. It's the one used in Elise Stuehmeyer kiltmaking workshops:

The Art of Kiltmaking

http://www.celticdragonpress.com/

Yes, I purchased The Art of Kiltmaking before anything else.

**Nate Brown** · 8th March 12, 02:52 PM

Here are a couple of pics of the completely basted Pipers Plaid.

I now have to wait for the Rowenta DG5030 to arrive, and then I can press the pleats into the plaid. Does anyone see any issues? At some areas of basting, the cloth is puckered a very tiny amount, that won't transfer through to the pressed pleat will it? Thanks for looking. Only 5 more of these to make!

**Elf** · 9th March 12, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by mnbrown25

At some areas of basting, the cloth is puckered a very tiny amount, that won't transfer through to the pressed pleat will it? Thanks for looking. Only 5 more of these to make!

First of all, good work. I was worried about the slight puckering in the basting when I made my first kilt too. As it turned out that was not a problem. With a good healthy wet press cloth, wool is amazingly pliable, squooshable, tolerant of working. Perhaps those slight puckers just shrunk themselves down to nothing and "went away". I'd be careful trying to push this theory to larger puckers however. Best wishes.