I'm hoping to make a silk dragon print kilt for my husband. He's wanted one ever since he saw one on the 21st Century Kilt web site. We picked up 7 meters of 36" wide material while we were in China this Jan. I just unpacked it and found that the print runs the length of the material not the width. If I make it up and match patterns the dragon will be facing the floor or the ceiling. It would also be possible to piece the fabric together and then have the dragon looking right side up. How much work is it to piece the material together? I can get 5" of pleats out of each 36" panel. Are there any tricks I should know about. I've made 2 tartan kilts and one denim kilt(all 8 yard) and one tartan casual kilt, but I've never tried to piece a kilt before.

Should I go the easy route and have the pattern sideways, and if so should the dragon face the ceiling or the floor or go the hard route and piece the kilt? Or just give up and make a bathrobe?

Any advice?

Clara