For a lady...a kilt in silk or satin

**bonnie heather** · 24th February 08, 08:58 AM

My dear highland dance teacher asked me to make an 8 yard kilt for her in a fabric that would look appropriate at evening parties but also swing and sway in case she does a bit of highland dancing there. She bought an 8 yard length of satin and another 8 yard length of polyester silky fabric.
Has anyone worked with either these fabrics? Any advice? I know how to make traditional woolen kilts, but this is the first time to make one out of this kind of fabric. Questions? Would you completely line the aprons so they wouldn't be too flimsy? What would you use for more feminine looking buckles and straps? Would you machine top-stitch the hip pleats?

**JimB** · 24th February 08, 09:08 AM

I can't answer your other questions, but I have made kilts out of thinner material when I was just learning, and I had good success with lining the aprons. You can use rayon or similar and it gives it a wonderful feel.

**ChattanCat** · 24th February 08, 10:29 AM

I think that both of those materials will not hold a crease. They are meant more for draping (sp?).

**Rex_Tremende** · 24th February 08, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by bonnie heather

What would you use for more feminine looking buckles and straps?

Since I'm not a stitcher, I can't really comment on the performance of the fabrics, but it seems to me, given the request for an evening garment, that's a secondary consideration. The client has already provided the fabric for her vision.

As for the question quoted above, can you find rhinestone buckles and leather that's the same color as the fabric?

Instead of buckles and straps, how about decorative frog closures backed up by a system of hidden hooks?

Alternatively, maybe a line of matching fabric-covered buttons down the outside edge of the apron from waist to hip?

Regards,
Rex.

**tyger132** · 24th February 08, 01:01 PM

I think the frog closure idea is very interesting and may add a very unique and elegant touch to the fabric.

**Monkey@Arms** · 24th February 08, 01:08 PM

I think you'd get more responses if you posted this in the DIY or Kiltmaker subforums.

Kiltmakers Forum
Ask the different kiltmakers questions about kilts and kiltmaking...

Best regards,

Jake

**ChattanCat** · 24th February 08, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

I think you'd get more responses if you posted this in the DIY or Kiltmaker subforums.

Best regards,

Jake

I thought we were talking about kilting?

**Monkey@Arms** · 24th February 08, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by bonnie heather

Has anyone worked with either these fabrics? Any advice? I know how to make traditional woolen kilts, but this is the first time to make one out of this kind of fabric. Questions? Would you completely line the aprons so they wouldn't be too flimsy? What would you use for more feminine looking buckles and straps? Would you machine top-stitch the hip pleats?

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

I thought we were talking about kilting?

I'm justing trying to clue an infrequent poster that she'd probably get a greater number of helpful responses if she posted her rather technical inquiry on one of the two sub forums specifically geared to discussions about how one goes about sewing kilts, rather than the general Contemporary Kilts sub forum.

Best regards,

Jake

**Arlen** · 24th February 08, 04:06 PM

I've seen kilts made of a wool/silk blend that were really nice.
I second the concern about holding a crease, but that could perhaps be dealt with by sewing all the way done the outside of the pleat as done in some of the contemporary denim/canvas kilts.

Good luck with figuring it out. It sounds like it will look great.

**JamieKerr** · 24th February 08, 11:50 PM

I was at Joanne Fabrics today just perusing their supply. Being that it is fast approaching prom season, there is much in the way of silks and satins right now. I was also contemplating making a kilt of such fabric when I stumbled across this thread. My worry is that the fabric would be so light I wouldn't dare wear it out of doors. To combat this I was thinking of basically making an inner shell and an outer shell. The outer shell of the kilt would be made of the silkesque material. A second kilt would be constructed for the inside. The pleats would be sewed down at the creases, because I'm sure that the material would not hold a crease on its own. I think I would make the inner kilt ~3 inches shorter than the outer, it would be made of a similarly colored fabric, and fastened to the outer kilt via the waist band. Alternatively, the inner kilt would be completely attached to the outer kilt, though I think this would kill much of the sway.