A 60 year old kilt re-build

[The Wizard of BC]

I've now removed the interfacing and exposed the stabilizer.



Just as with the interfacing there is evidence that some of the stitching has failed over the years. Along with the stitching of the interfacing failing the stitching of the stabilizer failing is the reason that the fabric is distorted by the stresses put on this kilt.

The stitch failure allowed the kilt to stretch but not enough to cause the stitching of the pleats to be stressed and fail.

Here is a close up of the stabilizer after I cut it loose.



You can see that even though some of the stitches holding the stabilizer failed they still held enough that the stabilizer took up the load as it is intended to. You can see in this close-up photo that the fabric has been pulled so much that it too has started to fail.

I can conclude that the failure of the cotton thread used to stitch the interfacing allowed the folds in it to expand causing the distortion of the aprons.
The failure of the stitching of the stabilizer has held enough that the stresses have not be transferred to the pleats so this kilt held together.

Remember that the interfacing, stabilizer and the stitching holding them are made of a cotton so more than likely this detereoration of the stitching and fabric is due to sweat. After 60 years even cotton will begin to rot and weaken.

The stabilizer is relativly as narrow as the interfacing was. This could have contributed to their starting to fail. But they lasted 60 years so maybe being this narrow is not as bad a thing as it would appear compared to what we use today.

Another thing I would like to point out is something you can see in the top photo of this post. Just to the right of the strap hole you can see a small white piece of canvas that is sewn in to reinforce the strap hole. Another small detail but another piece that I often find missing in modern traditional kilts.