Name The Project!

[wirerat123]

Here is the kilt mostly finished, I have a few things I think may make it look better. I do plan to put in real pockets, and I plan to sew down the first 3 or 4 inches of the pleats to get them to look better, and maybe grosgrain down the other side of the panel to match the open side of the panel, and I still need to sew on the webbing, I'm using D-ring buckles rather than real buckles and straps and using grosgrain straps to pull it around my hips better.

Keep in mind, I've kinda loosened the pleats working it around the sewing machine, so once it's washed, and the pleats are ironed back in with some starch it will look much better. I'm satisfied with the result, and it really wasn't too difficult of a project.

[Fronkey]

Awesome man! You are all set for St. Patty's day

Fronkey

[Running Feather]

Really Nice work. Inspiring!

[wirerat123]

Just to give a little in site, it's not really a traditionally made kilt. It took me exactly 3 yards of fabric to make this one with a 36" waist. I'm 12" across the hipbones and 24 around the back from hipbone to hipbone. I had no spare fabric left, so if you are larger you will need at least 4 yards.

First off I laid out the fabric and measured the length I needed and trimmed off the excess fabric.
A simple roll hem takes care of the raw edge.
I measured out a 12" panel, and marked if off with fabric marker
I then cut out a 2" wide piece of cardboard to use as a guide for the pleat width.
Then folded a pleat into the fabric side of the panel, the pleat folds under the panel on this first pleat.
The next pleat and every one that follows will be folded the opposite of the first pleat.
Where each pleat ended I started the next pleats, I did not over lap them at all, and just kept adding pleats until they measured out to 24" of pleats.
I then measured the under panel out 12" and luckily enough it was exactly 12" left So no further trimming needed.
Jess then suggested tacking the pleats down to make sure we didn't mess them up while handling it on the sewing machine. So we did that.
I then trimmed the two ends of the kilt with green grosgrain.
Then I took 1.5" black silk ribbon and put it across the entire length of the inside to make it more comfy on my skin.
One the inside was finished I decided to make line of the 1.5" Silk on the outside of the belt line as well for looks, so I ran that with an excess inch on each end to fold to the inside for a clean finish.
I made 2 D-Ring buckles using the green 7/8" Grosgrain, and sewed them onto the outer panel (If you look close you will see em hanging.).
Then I put velcro on the outside of the inner panel and the inside of the outer panel.
Once it's all done, give er a test fit. WOOT!

Still some work, but nothing more than an hour or so this evening and it'll be ready for use.

[jbo_c]

Honest question:

Other than who's wearing it, what makes it a kilt and not a skirt?

And don't your thighs chafe wearing those in summer?(or maybe I'm just delicate. )

Jbo

[turtlelady]

Wow! You've got the vision! Great fun and function.

[rjcress]

?
Kilts are inexpensive and widely available.
I was at Walmart last night and saw racks full of them.
We call them something else in this country.
Ok, weak attempt at humor aside, looks like a cool project. However the hat band is more my speed.

[wirerat123]

Here was our St. Patty's Day outfits. Everyone was impressed I made most of it.
As to the difference between a kilt and a skirt, there are some differences, but I'll let ya look it up. I looked into all of that once, and know it's something to do with the wrap and the pleats as well as who's wearing it. But it's still pretty much a man skirt. I loved wearing it.

[Fronkey]

You guys are probably the coolest family I've ever seen. If any one made fun of you for wearing a kilt you could just take care of it and yell, "Guess what? I sewed it too!" Seriously looks great man.

Fronkey