Hair Canvas Alternative

[Smayniac]

I happen to know from experience that I am allergic to goat, I found my wife's mohair made me most uncomfortable. Since I understand that hair canvas is now made with goat hair, is there an alternative for me? What are the characteristics I am looking for? I have a fairly substantial quantity of very stiff and heavy canvas, might that be an appropriate substitution?

Bob

[Tartan Hiker]

Others here will no doubt disagree, and I am not an expert by any means, but I've used heavy canvas in all my kilts and have found no problems at all. I wash it twice in hot water and dry it on high before cutting installing it.

I know that at some point I'll be forced to wash my kilts, and I trust the canvas to stay where I left it after a soaking in the tub.

[Carolina Kiltman]

There was once available, (my wife bought a whole bolt, and still has quite a bit left, but is not willing to part with it) a washable "hair canvas" which was made of cotton and polyester & nylon. I do not know if it is still available.

My guess is that any firmly woven fabric would substitute for it, I would go for 100% polyester, of about 4-6 oz weight as the best alternative. The second possible choice would be heavy nylon flag bunting.

The whole idea is to stablise the kilt at the waist/fell area and to provide something to take the stress of the buckles.

Some of the pros will (please!) correct me if I am wrong. I would avoid 100% cotton canvas as it has the bad habit of shrinking, and shrinking, and shrinking. . .

[The Wizard of BC]

One of the characteristics of Hair Canvas not found in ordinary canvas is a one way grain.
True Hair Canvas has large, thick fibers running width wise. With smaller, more flexible fibers going length wise.

What this does in a Kilt is give the longitudinal stretching resistance needed between the straps while stiffening the Kilt up and down and minimizing rolling and puckering.

An ordinary canvas will offer the longitudinal stretch resistance but not aid to minimize rolling and puckering.

If you attempt to fold Hair Canvas it will be easy to fold one way but stiffer in the other direction.

This stiffer direction is placed vertically to help support the waist and Fell area of the Kilt and keep it from rolling down over itself or developing puckers of the aprons over time.

I find that most higher end fabric stores either carry hair canvas or will order it for you. The problem I have found is getting the sales people to understand what you are talking about in the first place. Most of them do not sew, have never made a tailored garment and only know how to ring up your purchase in the register.

If you have to, visit your local custom, Traditional Kiltmaker and ask for a scrap of Hair Canvas. Then take that sample to the fabric store.

Alternately you can ask Barb, Matt or Myself and we can mail you a small scrap.

[Bugbear]

Goat hair? I hadn't heard that before...

Would the lining of the kilt not protect you from the hair canvas anyway. The hair canvas I have felt is rough, ugly and grid-like, and I would think it would rub you raw over time if it were in direct contact with your skin.

I'm just wondering how sensitive you are, but I understand that sometimes these things can be a big problem because I have my own allergy issues.

Good luck, and hope someone knows if there is something without the goat hair that can be used.

[Mipi]

The hair canvas is covered with at least one (more likely 2) layers of material (lining). So it doesn't come in direct contact with the skin. But yes it can be still a problem for allergic skin.

What I found usable as a replacement for hair canvas is simple ribbon used for sawing/hanging the curtains. It's very strong, yet thin, light and can follow the line of kilt material very nice.

See my older posts on this together with picture.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/h...x.html?t=40853

[Alan H]

I've used heavyweight non-fusible interfacing with reasonable success. Be SURE to get the non-fusible stuff if you go this route, and try it on a "practice" kilt before putting it into that MacDuff..

[Smayniac]

Thanks to all for your information and hints. I will try the heavyweight that Alan suggests, and I will definitely use it on the grey first (by the way, it's McBeth, not McDuff). I know the lining covers it, but I get some irritation from the elastic on my Sportkilt and it's covered too.

Bob