Cutting Down a Féileadh Mòr

**Mechamaniac** · 29th September 06, 04:35 AM

OK, so I have had a Féileadh Mòr for about 10 years now, and have been wearing it in the traditional fashion. However, this is getting old, and lately, I have been giving some thought to modifying it into a fèileadh beag for more casual use.

I spoke with the company I bought the Kilt from, and they advised that rather than cutting it in half, I should just fold it, then pleat, and belt on etc. I tried this once, and it just results in too much fabric around my waist. So, I have finally decided to just cut the damned thing down, and wear it as a fèileadh beag.

Once my (currently declining) weight levels out, I woud like to further modify it into a tailored kilt.

Suggestions?

**MacWage** · 29th September 06, 05:37 AM

I'm not sure if cutting down the material is the best idea. The early philabegs/fèileadh beags were made of one stretch of material (the belted plaid was 2 lengths sewn together to make a double width). The issue is the tear line left from cutting it down that WILL be visible in a fèileadh beag. The result will look like a poorly made kilt to most of the "uninitiated to kiltdom."

I'd leave it as a belted plaid, until it is converted into a kilt. As for ease in "putting it on," I'd HIGHLY recommend adding a drawstring,as in:
http://albanach.org/drawstring.htm

(Note: My first 3 kilts were WORN as belted plaids until made into kilts. AND I have several more I will likely convert SOON.)

FOR LURKERS: I have made kilts out of various grades of wool and ACTUAL WORSTED WOOL in 13 or 16 oz DOES make better kilts and is advisable after the first on or 2 attempts (which soon degrade to "bum around" kilts, unless you are EXTREMELY good).

**Mechamaniac** · 29th September 06, 06:25 AM

Ah, nice!

Is there anywhere with detailed instructions on how to do this?

Thanks!

**Kilted KT** · 29th September 06, 06:54 AM

to cut down said Féileadh Mòr, does one use a scottish axe?

**Mechamaniac** · 29th September 06, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Kilted KT

to cut down said Féileadh Mòr, does one use a scottish axe?

No, that's when you're cutting down the opposing clansman in his Féileadh Mòr. :rolleyes:

**Andrew Green** · 29th September 06, 10:32 AM

Ha!

I wouldn't cut down the belted plaide, but then again, I do favour them.

**Woodsheal** · 29th September 06, 10:48 AM

Options:
If it's a 4 yd plaid, that gives you enough fabric for a modern 8 yd traditional tailored kilt (the seam is hidden in the pleats by the kiltmaker),
Or, you can have two 4 yd tailored "casual" kilts made, and sell one of `em, thus breaking even on the whole business...!

**Pleater** · 29th September 06, 04:22 PM

Presumably this is one piece of fabric rather than two sewn together to get the width.

You will need to check that the two halves will fit together - preferably before cutting it.

Some cloths are not quite evenly woven, which is not a problem until you want to put the two halves together and have a perfect match.

Assuming this is a tartan material then it should be easy to lay the edges alongside and see how they match. You might need to trim the edge where they join so as to get the sett to match

Depending on how wide the fabric is you could get two pieces wide enough for the depth of the kilt and a piece from the centre to make the waist binding - to cover the cut edge, and some belt loops.

I have been making my kilts in a simple way, and reducing them is size as I have been losing weight. Some have been remade three, or even four times.

I put in the pleats, first pinning and then sewing them in place at the top edge. I take a strip of the fabric and bind the top edge, add belt loops, but I just press in the pleats as I get them correctly folded, and then press in the shaping from waist to hip once it is together, then wear it with a belt to keep it closed.

When it needs to be made smaller it is easy to remove the belt loops and binding, then release the pleats and either fold them closer together, or open out the fabric, wash it and hang it to dry, then iron the whole thing flat so as to have no folds from the previous incarnation to spoil the new one - and they will if you don't really flatten them out.

I have hand sewn more and more of my kilts as I find it is easier to make changes and it is more gentle on the fabrics I use than machine sewing would be.

When pressing the edges of the pleats I use a piece of thick cardboard, from the centre of a bolt of cloth, so I can place the fold on it and isolate it from the rest of the kilt. This seems to work very well.