Tips and tricks: Properly shaping the top of a kilt

[ChattanCat]

Hi Barb,

I have tried to make the pleats a little wider above the waist. It really seemed to skew the pleats instead of just making it wider at the top. So now I just make it straight at the top and stretch the top when I put the last row of stitching for the canvas. I will incorporate the stretching of the top when I put the waist band on too.

Thanks,
Wally

[Barb T]

Hi Barb,

I have tried to make the pleats a little wider above the waist. It really seemed to skew the pleats instead of just making it wider at the top. So now I just make it straight at the top and stretch the top when I put the last row of stitching for the canvas. I will incorporate the stretching of the top when I put the waist band on too.

Thanks,
Wally

Yup - I agree with you. I make the pleats straight from the waist, too. And I actually leave off that last line of stitching for the canvas, just to make sure that the top can be flared enough when I put on the top band. I figure there's really no reason for that last line of stitching (even though that's how I was taught to make a kilt) unless you _didn't_ want the top edge to stretch a little. Because I want it to stretch, I leave off the last line of stitching on the canvas (the set of straight stitches 1/4" down from the top).