Kilt Closures

[Dani Mac]

I am preparing to make my first kilt. Before I tackle a traditional wool kilt, I want to practice using more casual, washable, fabric. I need advice on closures. If I use traditional leather straps and buckles, will I ruin them when I wash the kilt? What are some other options for closures on a casual kilt?
Thanks to Barb for making me aware of this forum. I am carefully studying her book.
Dani Mac

[sydnie7]

You'll see everything from Velcro to snaps to webbing/plastic buckles and beyond! If you want to stay more traditional, you can make straps from matching fabric instead of leather -- there's a nice picture of that in the XKilts instruction manual. If you haven't taken a look at it, be sure to -- it's far from traditional construction but a great way to cut your teeth on kilt-making.

I think this is the most current link:
http://cmgm.stanford.edu/~ahebert/Xk...t2ndedRevK.pdf

[brewerpaul]

Here is a recent thread I posted on a running kilt I made using non leather straps. I used nylon webbing and flat cam closures. You can use other types of closures, fastec closures and others are available on the web. The only thing about using the flat cam is the webbing is drawn back forward so I made the handy dandy hider on the kilt to keep the webbing from bothering me while running or hiking. Cotton webbing can also be used such as the type the old military belts are made from. Hemp webbing is widely available too. For a hemp/cotton kilt I am making I am weaving my straps from jute on an inkle loom.

The running kilt I made is all lightweight nylon using the nylon webbing straps. I washed it this past week, hung it to dry and it was just fine. Pleats fell back into place and the straps were not bothered in the laundry process. Depending on what you plan to make the kilt from your imagination is your only limitation as there are tons of webbing sources for cotton, hemp, jute(which wont take to laundry very well though), nylon, kevlar and more...

Link to my thread on my running kilt.


http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ng-kilt-74086/

Best of luck in your search. PM me if you want some of my urls to nylon webbing, buckles and other things.

[Off kilt-er dude]

I myself have used the plastic snap closures on my monster kilt( I call it monster because it's a 9 yard knife pleat that I machine stitched and has visible stitches) and they work well. I am even considering putting some miniature seatbelt buckle closures on my self color kilt!

[Riverkilt]

Have washed my PolyViscose USA Kilts and cotton Utilikilts and the leather on them has come out fine. Worse case a bit of conditioner if needed, but I've not needed that. Air dry of course.

[Tobus]

Have washed my PolyViscose USA Kilts and cotton Utilikilts and the leather on them has come out fine. Worse case a bit of conditioner if needed, but I've not needed that. Air dry of course.

Same here. My Utilikilt Workman model has a long leather strap in it that's adjustable as a hammer loop or other utility loop. I have never really given it any thought, in terms of ruining it in the wash. I just chunk it in the washing machine, then let it air dry. No problems with the leather.

Small leather straps like we use on kilts should not be an issue in the wash. Especially if they have a finish on them like most do. As long as you are air-drying the kilt and smoothing out the straps when you hang it (so they won't curl), it should be fine. A little bit of conditioning oil maybe once a year should do it.

[Dani Mac]

Thank you all! This is exactly the information and advice I need. I appreciate the photographs of brewerpaul's kilt and of other kilts throughout the forum. Please post more photos! I'm eager to try leather and different non-traditional closures. Fortunately, I have lots of family members lined up to get kilts.

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

DaniMac;
Let me add one more Buckle Source. Any tack shop(horse supply store)will sell some very fine brass buckles, in many sizes. They are made to control a Horse, & thus a just dandy for a kilt, & the brass is a nice, different, touch.
For the left, inside closing, I would 2nd Mr.Newscomes' idea of a reversed buckle(thus it does not show, & no hole in the kilt is needed. You can also make a tye closing or velcro.
AsEver
CSA

[federkeil]

you can make straps from matching fabric instead of leather

I was thinking about this for my x-kilt, but went with velcro for ease.

What I would have done is make two straps like the instructions for the belt loops but normal strap width (~1") and appropriate length. Punch a series of holes through the straps with a leather punch and then shore them up with eyelets of a matching or contrasting colour.

[dea3369]

On my latest XKilt, I "cheated" and used buttons. I picked up a buttonhole-maker for my sewing machine at the local thrift shop (for $2.50) decided to give it a try. Here are photos of the finished kilt. Twenty-inch apron, one-inch knife pleats, two-inch pleat depth. Will likely add a fringe to the apron, but not decided for sure.