authenticity of pattern in question

[kiltman with a sword]

hey i need some more advice. i only own one kilt and it was made with a sewing pattern from simplicity.com , and i was wondering if it was authentic or not? id hate to think i wasted my money, but id really hate to think that i was going to make all these kilts and realize that i made abominations! i had one kilt made from the pattern,but it turned out badly because the lady who made it for me, made it much too large, and then it was tailored wrong. i think from now on ill learn how to do it myself. at least then i can blame myself! so if you have any info it would be appreciated! also , it came with a pattern for a sporran, but i dont know if this was right either. havent tried it yet, and am going to wait till i hear back from some more experienced people.
respectfully, and waiting for your help,
Levi McClain(kiltman with a sword)

[Chef]

Sounds like a good post for the DIY forum.

[Caradoc]

hey i need some more advice. i only own one kilt and it was made with a sewing pattern from simplicity.com , and i was wondering if it was authentic or not?

I have yet to meet the ethnic or historical pattern from Simplicity that has much bearing on reality.

Simplicity's patterns appear to be designed to pass the 20-foot rule - from more than 20 feet, the results might look OK. Closer than 20 feet and they look like stage costumes.

Not particularly well-designed costumes, either.

I have seen the Simplicity kilt pattern. Not to put too fine a point on it, they suck.

I'd recommend you save up $80+shipping and grab a Stillwater kilt (http://www.stillwaterkilts.com) and you'll be far, far happier with it.

[The Wizard of BC]

I bought that same pattern just to see what it was like. Plus I thought I could use the pattern for the Prince Charlie jacket.

It is no way authentic. It is designed for costumes. And nothing else.
It has you cut out the pleats in rectangles before sewing. It has no interfacing or stiffening built into it. It also completly skips over Steeking, proper pleat layout, and apron tapering.

If you want to know how to make a kilt, get a copy of Barbs book.

[MacWage]

For a kiltmaking pattern, I'd HIGHLY advise Barb's book:
The Art of Kiltmaking by Barbara Tewksbury and Elsie Stuehmeyer

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/books.htm

Seventh one down (IF I counted correctly).

[MacWage]

Another pattern that is "supposed" to be good. I am planning on getting it to make a Prince Charlie jacket:
http://www.folkwear.com/152.html

Anyone heard/seen this one in person and opened?
What about used it for EITHER a kilt or jacket?

I know it's GOT to be better than the Simplicity on, but how good is it?


(For kilt, best is STILL Barb's book.)

[Caradoc]

Another pattern that is "supposed" to be good. I am planning on getting it to make a Prince Charlie jacket:
http://www.folkwear.com/152.html

Anyone heard/seen this one in person and opened?

I've never used that pattern, but I have used other Folkwear patterns.

They seem to be several orders of magnitude better than Simplicity, at least for historical/ethnic clothing.

[auld argonian]

I'm hearing that the Stillwater economies are getting pretty good for the money...don't own one myself but thinking about picking one up. The Gordon don't look bad.

Part of the kilted thing is to get the "whole kielbasa", as it were: hilt hose, sporran, kilt pin...if you're going the tartan route...as you can see by searching the forum, we got yer "trads" and yer "contemporaries" here.

There was a very good thread started by Panache recently that consisted of a series of photos of members demonstrating both their formal and casual looks...check that out for some reference.

You seem to be pretty negative about the kilt that you currently have. There's a lot of material here about economical alternatives. I started lookingfor a kilt before I found Xsmarks and was flabbergasted by how pricey they could get...fortunately, I DID find this forum and get turned on to some "starter kilt" possibilities.

Best

AA

[bubba]

The Folkwaer set is pretty decent. You get a jacket pattern and instructions for some knit projects and for the kilt you get instructions, not a pattern. You really can't make a kilt from a pattern, only from measurements. The folkwear instructions will get you a decent looking kilt but my first choice if you aren't after the jacket pattern is Barbs book, The Art of Kiltmaking.

[Eujeankilt]

These instuctions helped me make my first kilt.

http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/chegc/kiltsite/kilt.htm


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