kilt making help

[kiltie as charged]

I have a question about kilt making. I just bought some camoflaoge matieral, and I was wondering if it would be fine to use as a single layer
or should it be doubled to make it a little heavier?I have deceided to go with a box pleat with 4 yards of material.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly apprieciated. Thank you.

[beerbecue]

As I too am a beginning kilt maker (very novice), please take my advice as such....

I wouldn't think doubling it would be the way to go...

That sounds like it would be very difficult to keep the two layers perfectly flat and what not.

How thin is the material? If it is less than 10-11 oz., I would think perhaps you should use it for something else.... If you can easily see through it, it is probably too thin....

OTOH, I made my first kilt from 11 oz. material, and it worked out pretty well. First, if you don't have Barb T.'s book, get it - there are some great things to know about kilt construction in general. Secondly, you will need a hem, something over 3 inches would be good (it will make the kilt hang better). Thirdly, a hidden pleat in the front apron would be good for more weight, and you also may want to make extra-deep pleats at the first pleat at the apron and for the inverse pleat at the underapron. Lastly, if you have about six inches of material for the outer apron edges, that will add some weight as well when you finish them off.

Other than that, I have no idea, my brain is now empty.

Good luck, it is a very rewarding thing to put on a kilt you constructed for yourself.....

[Doc Hudson]

What Beerbecue meant when he said "Barb T.'s book" was The Art of Kiltmaking by Barbara Tweksbury (who posts here as BarbT) and Elsie Stuehmeyer It is available from Celtic Dragon Press. I think BarbT has a link to them on her profile page.

Great reading but be prepared to spend time scratching your head andwondering what that sentence means. It will make more sense the second time you read the book anyway.

Good Luck

[kiltie as charged]

the material is the same as used to make shirts and pants for hunting.

I think that the hem idea is good.That would probably make it hang very well. thanks for the help.

[beerbecue]

I'm not familiar with the modern version of that material at all... I used to have a camo suit that went over your normal clothes, and if I remember correctly that stuff was way too thin for kilt making...

The weight of the material will also affect the pleating I think, with 16 oz. worsted wool making the 'crispest' pleats. If it is too light, the pleats may not hold well. If you are making this by machine, you could always run a stitch the entire lenth of the pleat - after you pass the fell, you would just sew the edge of the pleat, and not sew it to the next pleat...

The link for 'The Art of Kiltmaking' :

http://www.celticdragonpress.com/

If you read it while making the kilt, it is very understandable, because it is written as a guide while you are sewing. The early chapters are good background and theory...

[The Wizard of BC]

As I make Camo Kilts all the time, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
You can PM me or e-mail me or call me.
Addy and phone no. are on my website.