Where?

[way2fractious]

There is nothing as rewarding as making your own kilt and wearing it whenever and wherever you wish.

My backpacking gear evolved over the years from blue jeans to Dockers to shorts made from Dockers. Then the Mountain Kilt ads appeared, though it is really a wraparound skirt, and I got thinking I could make my own kilt to use outdoors.

The online instructions, a $20 piece of uncoated upholstery cotton denim fabric (approx 2.5 yds in large block check), and needle and thread were all the physical necessities. It helped immensely to have a well-made kilt available for inspection because what you really need to understand is the geometry of the angles of the folds and the tapering in the sewn portion of the pleats. The importance of the hip measurements (split front and back) and the fell line was indelibly impressed on me during that first, faltering attempt. I must have sewn, ripped out seams, and resewn portions of that kilt about three or four times before completion, but the lessons learned were invaluable. I still wear my original kilt sometimes because it is terribly comfortable and I never worry about it getting dirty, wet, torn, or anything else.

Three practice kilts of this nature gave me the confidence to buy some of the expensive tartan and Barb T.'s book and make my own hillwalker, which means that some of Barb's detailed instructions needed to be amended slightly (that's why the confidence is needed.) It turned out wonderfully and is worn proudly at all the appropriate functions.

Since then, I have made a couple tartan kilts on commission, and lots and lots of cotton and cotton/poly kilts for myself. My closet is being taken over by them. I basically stay with the traditional full aprons. The fabrics I choose are usually in the various camos, tropical patterns, southwestern geometrics, or solid colors.

But, I feel some more experimentation coming on, such as side pockets, two-tone kilts, something done in leather, etc. The possibilities are as endless as the enjoyment. At this rate, I'll never learn to play the bagpipes.

Let us know how it goes with you.

[mddock58]

Welcome to the Asylum!

We're all Kilt-Crazy! (Some more than others)

[Riverkilt]

I sure admire you guys and gals with "the gift."

Think I'm on Ham's team.

After buying Barb's book with the best of intentions I decided to sew down the pleats of one of my gathered SportKilts...after hours of fumbling, it looks like what it is, an attempt by an old man to learn to sew...

That was the end of that.

Ron