2 metres of X-Marks tartan; selvedge damaged

**Alan H** · 5th November 07, 11:07 PM

The two meters that I ordered just arrived. In fact, the selvedge is totally trashed. It's just royally hacked up along the entire length that I got. There's no saving it, but then I was mentally prepared for that. I will lose about two inches of material. I'll serge it very carefully by doing my usual overlapping zig-zags and then trim off the excess. I'll hem the kilt by hand. This will be a 4 yard box pleat kilt, so that's not too bad. I hand-hemmed my first 8 yarder once, so this will be no big deal. The hem will be invisible, and in fact the hem will add just a ti'ch more weight to the 4 yards, and might help with a bit of swing.

I didn't notice any stains, though Moosedog spotted stains in her piece. The material lay reasonably flat on the kitchen table, certainly not a problem. If it gives me any grief, well....that's what the steam setting on the iron is for. At any rate, for the price this is a STEAL. Thanks, Gordon!

This is the next one after Panache's X-Kilt, and I'm looking forward to it. It's fun to work with high quality wool. I am GUESSING that Gordon probably mailed out the better bits and pieces first, and now that we're more than halfway through the damaged bolt, we'll be getting to more and more damaged stuff. But look at it this way.... He's charging $15 Canadian a meter. That, for all intents and purposes right now, is $15 USA per meter. Add $20 shipping and handle to that. It's 60 inches wide. If you have to cut off 4 inches from each edge and turn up/hem an inch to get to good cloth, you STILL have plenty to make a 24 inch long kilt, and you'll have a 4 inch wide strip for the waistband and flashes. It's more work, sure, because you have to hem it. But honestly, if you have made a kilt or two and are thinking about jumping in and making another one from wool, it's going to be hard to beat this deal. If you're worried about the stains, buy another half-yard and cut out the stained sections and piece it together. Yeah, it's a bit tricky, but not THAT tricky.

**TheKiltedWonder** · 5th November 07, 11:18 PM

I do believe those were the last two metres. Not that I've been checking the remnants page compuslively to see if there's been any updates. You know, in case the monthly specials were updated in the past 30 secs.

**Alan H** · 5th November 07, 11:26 PM

I just looked...

http://www.wooltartan.com/tartans5.htm

and it says there's 21 metres left! I think they started with 60?.........or maybe 40?

**auld argonian** · 6th November 07, 07:00 AM

I'm just waiting for mine to arrive...and as you say, it still seems like a bargain. I'm going to set up the machine with the blind hemming foot later and start getting my act together in anticipation of hemming the fabric even before I start. I'll let you all know what kind of shape the selvedge is when I receive it. As to any oil stains...must be a way to soak those out...?

Best

AA

**Tartan Hiker** · 6th November 07, 08:27 AM

I've got 2 meters on the way...maybe today

so that last 2o meters has been whittled down considerably at this point.

**Riverkilt** · 6th November 07, 09:06 AM

Kathy Lare sewed up an X Marks tartan vest for me out of my remenants. Looks great.

Don't forget there are other options for the X Marks material than kilts....

Ron

**TheKiltedWonder** · 6th November 07, 09:31 AM

I had just gotten an email on Nov. !st saying there were only 2 metres left. I'm guessing someone here got them. There's def not the 21 metres listed...

**turpin** · 6th November 07, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

As to any oil stains...must be a way to soak those out...?

Best

AA

Just be careful. Many cleaners that will dissolve and soak out oil will also remove the lanolin. Start easy, like with ReviveX or Eucalan before trying something harsher.

An alternative would be to spot-clean with a degreasing agent, then soak the cloth in cold water to remove the residue.

**auld argonian** · 6th November 07, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by turpin

Just be careful. Many cleaners that will dissolve and soak out oil will also remove the lanolin. Start easy, like with ReviveX or Eucalan before trying something harsher.

An alternative would be to spot-clean with a degreasing agent, then soak the cloth in cold water to remove the residue.

Actually, I was wondering about the old process of using Fuller's Earth to soak the oil out of the fabric and then washing. An old technique but possibly more effective and gentle. What were the old techniques that my dad would have employed...dab it out with Carbonna or a rag with some gasoline on it? Yeah...right...like I'm gonna do that.

Best

AA

**Ian.MacAllan** · 6th November 07, 09:42 AM

Thank you all for pointing me toward Fraser & Kirkbright. I have admired the XMarks tartan since I first saw it but expected it, in 16 oz. wool, to cost at least $60 a yard. At this remnant price I do believe there may be a great kilt in my Christmas.

So now the Jonesing begins again. Can anyone on board guess when an order placed today is likely to be delivered?

.