Military Kilt repairs

[sydnie7]

I would say there is a fine line between "used kilt" and "cleaning rag" and this garment is precariously balanced on that line! You certainly have your work cut out for you and I salute your dedication. Will be very interesting in techniques and tactics to come.

[SteveB]

Steve,
I do not envy you on this work. My family has had through the generations a military kilt that has seen better days. Fortunately it has been kept very clean. Like the example you are dissecting it originally had no canvas liner. About twenty-five years ago my uncle had a kiltmaker open it up and put in a liner to take the stress off the fell, which was starting to "pull". He spent more on the refurbishing of this kilt than on his two new custom woven nine yard 16 oz kilts that he actually wore. The military kilt was far too small to fit him, but he kept it on his clothes rack as a sentimental item of relatives long past. A cousin is in possession of it now, who has been reminded that should he not care for it, it must be passed to another relative. ( His wife would like him to lose enough weight to wear it )

[The Wizard of BC]

BTW the Tartan is Stewart Hunting. I estimate the weight of the fabric to be in 18-20oz per linear yard range. It is pleated to alternating red and yellow stripes which has earned it the nickname "The Catsup and Mustard Kilt".

There are 38 knife pleats each 3/4" wide reveal. And this kilt measures a 32" waist.

Also note that the Twill line runs in the 'wrong' direction.

SteveB, the Kilt has a canvas liner it can be seen in the 4th and 5th photos. But the canvas is really ratty and worn. What is missing is the stabilizer which should go from the strap across the back to the buckle.

I thought everyone would like to see what is hidden behind the liner of a Traditional Kilt. It is the hidden stuff that makes a Tank capable of such a long life. The stabilizer and hair canvas are the internal structure that keeps all the stresses off the pleat stitches. You can see that when the internal elements begin to fail the whole kilt fails.