A 60 year old kilt re-build

[artificer]

Definitely looking forward to following this threads course. Color me eagerly fascinated already in anticipation.

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I am astounded that that kilt is over 1/2 C. old, and can't wait to take a peek at it's "guts".

ith:

[The Wizard of BC]

Sorry folks, I was working on the forum as Steve Ashton and forgot to log out and log in as The Wizard.



OK, let's begin by evaluating this kilt the same way we did with Tobus's Kilt.


One of the first things I noticed on this old kilt was the hardware.



Notice the old style two prong buckles.

One strap is broken off and one missing entirely.

Also notice that the green horse blanket binding that is used as the waistband on Regimental kilts is worn through.

At first glance I thought that this kilt looked pretty good. Most of the stitching is tight and intact. There is very little stretch between the buckles. The fabric itself has only one small hole from a kilt pin getting caught on something.

Then I noticed something strange.

Here is a shot of the right edge of the outer apron. You can see that the strap hole is torn.
But the strange part is the right (right as in the photo) edge of the apron where it is sewn at the Fell.



Notice that the yellow vertical line seems to wander all over the place.

Here is the other side of the same apron.



On this side of the apron the yellow line is fairly straight and meets the edge of the apron just below the level of the top strap.

I will have to find out if this difference in the two sides of the apron was the result of an alteration done at some time or something else entirely.

The second thing this photo points out it the distortion of the fabric where the straps were. There is a very visible bulge in the apron edge and the Tartan lines are not straight any more. There is definitely something going on inside this kilt.

[Standard]

Very interesting indeed. Can't wait to see what lurks inside the waistband of this kilt.

[Downunder Kilt]

Thanks for this thread Steve. I have recently obtained a kilt made c1954, in Australia, from tartan woven in Australia and is showing some of the problems you have already mentioned. I will be eagerly following this thread to see what you discover