Interesting thing happened when fabric shopping this weekend.

**Cynthia** · 16th April 12, 07:18 AM

So, I'm trying to get ready for a costuming event in May -- we're riding a train, and the theme is Victorian. I'm going to make a travel bustle gown. I'm basing it off an outfit I saw in a fashion plate. The top is a jacket/bodice design in neutral colors of gray, black, and white. The skirt (a single skirt, no layering or trims, but poufed in the back) is going to be in a plaid fabric. I'm also very hot-natured, and want to have an outfit I don't mind getting dirty or muddy, so I wanted to go with a cotton. Light enough for me not to feel like I'm dying from the heat, but heavy enough that it will look decent enough with the appropriate layers.

I managed to luck out and found almost exactly the plaid pattern and coloring I was hoping for, and I like the weight of it (fairly light):

Christopher was with me, and I bought enough yardage to have extra for matching up patterns, maybe a couple accessories, and see what else I can squeeze out of it (you never know what you'll need, so I love to buy extra yardage). The woman ringing me up immediately said, "I bet you're making a kilt!"

I am embarrassed to admit I think I shot her a shocked and confused look. This fabric is most definitely too light for a kilt.

I told her that no, while my husband does indeed wear a kilt and I will be sewing him a very nice one someday, this fabric is for a bustle gown to wear on a train.

It was her turn to give me a slightly shocked and confused look.

I guess she doesn't hear that one very often.

I just thought I'd share the story. Yes, it's a beautifully patterned fabric and I'm thrilled I found it, but a kilt never even crossed my mind since it would be so light it would hang funny and blow around way too much.

I'm used to being asked what I'm going to make something out of by people cutting my fabric or ringing me up, but this is the first time I've had someone automatically assume a specific garment like that.

I know people use and try various fabrics to test out garment making, and I don't have a problem with anyone who would make a kilt out of this fabric -- heck, I'm all for trying things out since I do it as well (great learning experience and practice, even if it fails). I guess it just threw me for a moment because I would never associate a very light fabric for something like a kilt even with an obvious and bold pattern like it has.

**tulloch** · 17th April 12, 05:45 AM

That is a very attractive design. Looking forward to seeing it when you're done.

**Cynthia** · 19th April 12, 10:07 AM

Thank you! Slowed down on my sewing progress due to some crazy things going on, and getting sick. D'oh! Need to get back on track soon though. Best wishes!

**Cynthia** · 13th May 12, 07:06 AM

Hello again! Since I'd started this thread, I thought I would share a few photos -- including a kilt I didn't expect to see!

I made my bustle gown so I could ride a train with my costuming friends and attend Frontier Forts Days in Fort Worth's Stockyards.

First, I was surprised when my husband asked if I saw the guy in the kilt. I didn't, but then we were getting tons of people asking to take our photo, as well as lots of re-enactors and other costumers talking to us to find out who we were and compliment us on our outfits. This event had a lot of Texas fort history -- tents and booths set up about the locations. Also of course, the history of the Stockyards and Chisholm Trail.

Honestly though, I still don't know how I missed seeing this kilted gent (my husband didn't wear his kilt):

DSCN0452 by CFGriffith, on Flickr

And here is my finished gown using the plaid fabric for my skirt (I didn't have enough time to make my hat). I'm posing in front of the train car we rode in:

DSCN0442 by CFGriffith, on Flickr

And here is our group at the station after our trip:

DSCN0639 by CFGriffith, on Flickr

If you'd like to see all of the photos -- lots of train photos, and photos of the Stockyards:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfgriff...7629701086898/