Gathering kilts in progress for a kiltmaking demonstration - Mohonk Scottish Weekend

**bonnie heather** · 23rd January 14, 04:23 PM

This weekend (Jan. 24-26 is the annual Scottish Weekend at Mohonk Mountain House near New Paltz, NY.
I'm gathering up kilts in progress to bring because I'll be doing a kilt presentation and demonstration (not vending).
Here are the ones I'm bringing....

Ideally, it would be wonderful to show people, step by step how I make a kilt. But for them, it would be like watching paint dry. So I've been trying to think of how to condense it for those who just want an overview. On the other hand, if people can see a variety of kilts in different stages of progress, I think that might help.

I wonder how I can make it interesting for people, and I'm trying to think of some good ideas.

**plaid preacher** · 23rd January 14, 05:20 PM

Oh Bonnie, I think you are asking the wrong group of people. We all would sit in wrapped attention for hours watching someone like yourself or Barb T stitch away. But I like your concept. With a collection of kilts at various stages of construction, they get to see each step in the process -which will probably be very enlightening for some. IF you want to go for the shock and awe factor... start your presentation by talking about how expensive tartan is .... and then rip a piece down to size. Then explain why it is done that way. (I still get a little slack-jawed at the fabric store when you take something to the cutting table and they make a little nick with the scissors and rip the rest.)

Another aspect of the "art" of kilt-making that I think is most interesting is the various ways that the tartan can be pleated. One tartan in two or three different pleating styles might be interesting to folks, as well.

But then again, these are just my suggestions; and I hang out here too much, and would sit and watch you simply stitch for hours. So I don't know how much of this you might want to take to heart.

**Spartan Tartan** · 23rd January 14, 05:23 PM

I think that is a great idea to have a variety of kilts at different stages of completion to illustrate the process. Very visual...plus, just LOOK at that gorgeous collection of tartans!!

**Spartan Tartan** · 23rd January 14, 05:29 PM

I just googled the event... Oh... I would absolutely LOVE to be there for Saturday!! That looks like an absolutely wonderful day. Is this an annual event? Maybe I can arrange to go next year. It's not too far (just a tad over 3 hours).

**frank_a** · 23rd January 14, 05:30 PM

Best of luck to you Bonnie! I love that picture of all those tartans laid out. Beautiful!

Gail will be in Beacon this weekend with sisters and cousins working on a quilt. I hope to do a local Burns Supper Saturday night in Colonie (near Albany), different from any I've done before.

Maybe one of these days we'll get down to Mohonk.

Frank

**tulloch** · 24th January 14, 07:44 AM

That looks great Heather. Very good thinking - like a cooking show with dishes in various stages stashed to show the progress. That is a great assortment of tartan. Beautiful!

**Grae** · 24th January 14, 07:25 PM

Great looking kilts there Bonnie, I was wondering what the tartan was of the kilt 3rd from the right with the bold red stripes, on the green and blue background with thinner yellow stripes is?

**Grae** · 26th January 14, 01:33 AM

I Think I have tumbled it , Cork tartan its a beauty

**bonnie heather** · 27th January 14, 06:07 AM

Grae, you're right. It is the County Cork tartan.

Scottish Weekend at Mohonk was so nice! I did a presentation/workshop, telling about the history of kilts and tartan, and also showed how I make kilts. All weekend, there were tables set up with kilts, fabric, tartan swatch books and reference books so I could help people find tartans with family connections.
A lot of people were interested and that made me very happy.