DIY Kilt #3: MacPherson Red

**Kiltman** · 29th July 08, 09:42 PM

Congratulations. Looks great.

**BobsYourUncle** · 30th July 08, 08:02 AM

That is very, very impressive. Your thread has stoked my DIY ambitions. I have been reading Barbara Tewsksbury's The Art of Kiltmaking, and the article by Ann Stewart on Kiltmaking from Threads contained in Techniques for Casual Clothes, but have held back due to lack of sewing experience or expertise. It is clear that accuracy is paramount, and that tolerances are virtually non-existent--as Ms. Tewksbury states, if you are off by even 1/32nd of an inch, by the time you aggregate that over the entire kilt, you are way, way off. How do you keep to your calculated measurements/intervals?

Thanks so much for the thread and the pics.

**sydnie7** · 30th July 08, 11:26 AM

I think it's easier to be accurate when sewing by hand than by machine (I've done kilts both ways). Each stitch by hand allows you to set and match your placement, whereas machines tend to wander (when you are talking about 1/32s). Takes longer, of course, but that is part of the point.

I'll continue to fashion kilts both ways, with machine stitching reserved for non-tartan casuals and hand-stitching dedicated to tartans (even PV).

My 0.48p