Sewing my first kilt...

[tmbjared]

Hi everyone,

I've spent the last couple of days exploring the board and enjoying all the photographs. What I'm trying to find is some photos of kilt construction, particularly the pleating and waist supression.

In addition, and this question will seem exceedingly basic, but where on the pleat itself should the sewing be done? At the end of the pleat? Or closer to where the pleat is joined to the remainder of the material?

Lastly, keeping in mind that I'm hand sewing, what is the best way to keep the stiching from being visible on the pleats. Thanks for all your help.

Anyone please feel free to message me privately also, if it would be more courteous to the remainder of the group.

Thanks,

Jared

[Bil]

Yikes, that's a pretty heavy first post.

The best place to begin is with a search of the website for "kilt making" and/or PM(ing) some of the listed kilt makers. Several members on this site have made their own kilts and they all seem to have used similar referrences. A quick search of the site should provide you with plenty of resources to get you on your way.

Good Luck!

[Canuck]

Probably the best resource at the moment and will answer most of your questions is the book "The art of kiltmaking" by Barbara Tewksbury available at celtic dragon press. You can order on line.
This book will address the handsewing of the kilt.
From the question you posted this is the way to go.
In the meantime you stitch down the pleat about 1/3 the length of the kilt from the waist to the hip.

[D.A. Guertin]

I'm guessing in large part here, based on a little knowledge, and a lot of intuition, but I suspect that the easiest way to hide the stitching is to sew it on the inside. I've been looking over significant on-line references lately, and I'm about to start into my first one as well. Going with a Kinguisse style in 4 - 5 yards (finally found out there was a precedent for the way I wanted to do it! :mrgreen: ) If I don't bollocks this one, I may use some of my proper MacLeod of Lewis tartan cloth for the next (first one is chili peppers )

Darryl

[Barb T]

Ummm, no, pleats on a trad kilt are stitched by hand from the outside with a very tiny edge stitch (like a blind stitch with a bit of a back stitch). The trick is to make the stripes match and to make invisible stitches.

You can make something that _looks_ like a kilt by kind of winging it, but, if you want something that will fit, hang, and last like a traditional kilt, then the details, the methods, and the interior construction are all important and not easy to imagine from looking at a kilt! If you want all the details, you can find them in The Art of Kiltmaking.

Barb