Sewing pleats on Amerikilt?

**canawler** · 10th February 07, 09:06 AM

Just a note, if you like the looks of AKs and want a summer weather kilt, they had been playing around with some polyester fabrics and may still have some left. I purchased a green micro-suede kilt last fall and it doesn't wrinkle at all. Even when bunched up while driving, the pleats fall straight as soon as you stand back up. The material is EXTREMELY light though this may be a good thing if you want a hot weather kilt. Or you could wait for a new style kilt AK is working on.

**Moosedog** · 10th February 07, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the tip, Jim.

I have some lengths of microfiber waiting for me to play around with--seems like it would be great stuff, my only worry was the amount of stretch, and so how to reinforce it enough to take the pressure off the stitches. I'll work on it and post a report.

Right now winter has returned here so I'm thinking more about wool today, sigh.

Moosedog

**Kilted X** · 12th February 07, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by keepoffgrass

I have a brown Amerikilt, and it looks great , until I sit down. Then the pleats become a total mess.

That is why I sold mine the next day it arrived in the mail. That & the fact that it had a surged hem instead of a regular hem. Just not a good quality modern kilt. Fabric is to pliable.

**mddock58** · 12th February 07, 01:40 PM

Actually I have a black micro-fiber AK, and the wrinkles hang out pretty well. I wore it driving down to Williamsburg, VA twice now (7 hrs. each way), and it looked as good as most kilts do.

As I have said in the past, I wish there was more material to them, but I still like mine.

**Moosedog** · 1st March 07, 02:15 PM

Update on my Amerikilt experiment:

I sewed the inside of the pleats down right along the edge, and am pleased with the results. I did all of them except the one small pleat on the left ( my left) side of the apron as there's already not much play there. Still get the wrinklies while sitting (to be expected) but my pleats no longer get in complete disarray. So when I get up to answer the door for UPS I just give them a little shake and they are fine. I quite like the kilt for everyday workwear while at home-comfortable and sturdy. I end up "altering" almost every kilt I acquire in some manner, just my little foible. I had already shortened the "sporran straps" a bit.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments.

Moosedog

**Riverkilt** · 1st March 07, 03:24 PM

Hey Moosedog,

I don't come to the DIY forum much - for obvious reasons....I bleed when I sew...

A couple years ago I asked the same question and Jimmy Carbomb said no way, that rather I should UNsew the same threads on my Utilikilts and they'd hang better. Go figure.

Confused me so much I never did either...

Ron