starting my xkilt

[bubba295]

OK so I am getting ready to start my Xkilt. I have read the directions a couple of times and taken my measurements.

Well it seems that my wife has been right all along, she says that I suffer from the noassatall affliction. My waist measurement is 1 1/2" larger than my rump. So I am guessing that I will make the Xkilt straight, no taper to the pleats at the waist through the fell. I think that it would look kinda odd if it got smaller as it went down towards the fell.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Much Thanks, Ben

[bubba295]

OK I think I have it figured out. After reading this thread, I walked up to the wall and stopped when I touched it and then was able to get two fingers between the wall and where I took my hip measurement. So I will add that to my hip measurement and go from there. Let me know what you more experienced kilt makers think about this idea.

Much Thanks, Ben

[sydnie7]

What we sometimes see is a person whose rump sticks out toward the rear (duh) and tummy sticks out toward the front. When you measure those two points independently, i.e. around the waist and around the rump, you may get the same or nearly the same measurement -- but you are not truly straight up and down. If you make the kilt a "tube," it won't fit well.

If that's your case, there are several ways to adjust the measurements to make your finished kilt fit better. One way is to put on a pair of p@nts, or imagine you are wearing a pair, that fits right around where you want the kilt waistband to be. Measure from side seam to side seam around the FRONT of your waist. Then measure side seam to side seam around the REAR of your rump. Total these two measurements.

Use that total for your rump measurement. This will allow the front aprons to fall straight down from your navel toward the floor.

[bubba295]

thanks Syd.

[Alan H]

That Syd, she one smart chick.

[sydnie7]

Thank you both.

But I really prefer "Sydnie," just for future reference

[bubba295]

OK, Sorry about that. Thank you Sydnie.

I measured the way that you suggested and now I feel like I have a more normal body shape. Now I will need to work 3" of taper into the fell.

Got my fabric washed and ironed, and now that Lost is over I'm going to proceed with the next steps.

Thanks for the help and I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

ben

[bubba295]

OK got it all of the 3" outer pleats sewn up last night, and just finished ironing all the pleats in. Getting ready to bar tack the pleats down at the fell.

My question is do I also tack down the under apron pleat to the over apron, or do I sew it to the over apron along the top of the apron?

Also I am assuming that the bottom left corner of the "A Shaped" over apron should lie at the center of the first pleat to the left.

Am I thinking this part through correctly?

[sydnie7]

OK got it all of the 3" outer pleats sewn up last night, and just finished ironing all the pleats in. Getting ready to bar tack the pleats down at the fell.

My question is do I also tack down the under apron pleat to the over apron, or do I sew it to the over apron along the top of the apron?

Also I am assuming that the bottom left corner of the "A Shaped" over apron should lie at the center of the first pleat to the left.

Am I thinking this part through correctly?

Great; no tack, just sew the top edge into the waistband seam; correct; yup!

[bubba295]

WOO HOO!! Got it finished last night. It is in the washer now. Gonna go swap it over to the dryer, and then head out to a job interview. I'll post more details about the kilt after I get it out of the dryer and ironed.

Thanks for the GREAT instructions and GREAT help!!