My next two projects

**Erisianmonkey** · 29th December 06, 02:09 PM

I splurged at wal-mart the other day, and picked up some cheap fabric to sew up two new kilts! I've got a camo pattern canvas, and some kind of weird weave in an olive color that actually has a stretch in one direction. I'm kind of worried about that, but as that fabric was only a buck a yard, it isn't something that has me in a screaming panic. I mean it's definitely a weave with a selvedge and everything, but it seems like the fibers that run perpendicular to the selvedge are spandex or something. Here's some pics:

**auld argonian** · 29th December 06, 02:23 PM

What are you worried about? End of the year clearance! Low cost to get your chops together making kilts! Be grateful....don't worry...even if the final result is not ideal, it's good practice,

Best

AA

**Erisianmonkey** · 29th December 06, 04:03 PM

True. I guess it's just that my first kilt went so well that I want all of them to go that well or better. I'm wondering if that vertical stretch is going to cause any interesting problems along the way is all. I've started rolling a hem on the camo, and it seems to be really easy to work with so far. I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 29th December 06, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Erisianmonkey

...I've started rolling a hem on the camo, and it seems to be really easy to work with so far...

Does anybody else feel like this could be code for something else besides kilt making???

**Tartan Texan Trenton** · 29th December 06, 06:54 PM

Hey... get your mind out of the sewer, and back up into the gutter with the rest of us!

**The Wizard of BC** · 29th December 06, 06:56 PM

You might want to do a quick experiment. Sew one line of stitching warp wise and then another weft wise. (That's one line 90 degrees out from one another.)

I mistakenly got some fabric with stretch in it and had to throw it out as it puckered badly in one direction eventhough it was fine in the other.

Note to all DIY'rs: Buy the best fabric you can. Most of the cost of a non-wool kilt is in the labor, not the fabric. The differance in 1.99 a yard and 7.99 a yard is only $24.00. If you figure your labor at even minimum wage that's $300 or so.
So by buying a really good fabric your kilt cost $324.00 instead of $300.00. So what.
But oh what a differance a good piece of fabric makes.

**Erisianmonkey** · 29th December 06, 07:45 PM

Thanks Steve, I'll try that. The best thing about this set of projects is that they are bonus projects. I decided to look at the fabric at Wally world on a whim, and found these two really inexpensive types of fabric with the right weight that I liked. The funny thing is, I hadn't even intended to get fabric at all. I had gone to that section to get some yarn and knitting needles, because I decided to learn how to knit to take my mind off of having to wait to get the good fabric that I want! I figure once I learn how to knit, (probably months/years away) then I can knit my own kilt hose!

**Warlock** · 29th December 06, 10:32 PM

I found a cotton version of the Fraser red today, but at $17.00 a yard, it would be cheaper and easier to buy the pv from Rocky. Stay tuned Rocky, I'm savin' my pennies to get Both of the Frasers that you offer!

**crboltz** · 30th December 06, 09:04 AM

You can have lots of fun (and learn lots) even if the fabric is less than ideal. I picked up a flanel plaid that was really really cheap (going out of buisness sale) to learn how to pleat to the set. Even with the pleats sewn in it doesn't hold them -- unbelievably limp -- BUT it is warm and very very comphy. I use it as something to wear around the house after work. I'm "legal" if someone comes to the door, but it has all the freedom AND machine washable which makes it ideal to cook in (I'm a very messy cook). It is essentially a kilted PJ bottom. Looks bad -- feels good. So what! i learned, and it didn't cost me anything but time. And I wouldn't be attempting my next plaid kilt if I hadn't had the freedom to completely screw up the first one.

If you have fun making the kilt, and the fabric didn't cost you much.... I think it was a worth while endeavor.

Cheers
Chris

**Erisianmonkey** · 2nd January 07, 09:48 PM

Well, I got the hem done on the bottom of the camo material. I'm getting ready to do the front apron. I've decided to go ahead and do this in a traditional style, i.e., like I would a tartan kilt. Modern kilts are all well and good, but I don't like the narrower aprons.

I cut a swatch of the olive material and did some test stitching like Steve suggested. It failed. Even though there isn't much stretch to the material, a line in the vertical puckers like a child going in for a kiss. Oh, well. At $8.00 for 8 yards of double width material I'm not gonna cry, we'll find a use or two for it.