DIY kilt

[okiewan]

I dont know if it is a desire to be cheap or the desire to be creative but I am planning on creating my own kilt out of Denim or something similar. has anyone else created their own?
and what is the best way to get a good crease in the pleats of denim?
are there any sites or publications that might show different patterns?

[Calico Jack]

Probably want to talk to Bubba

[highlandtide]

My thoughts as well...Bubba what say you?

[bubba]

The best way to get a sharp crease is to put a hard surface, like a sheet of heatproof plastic or formica under each pleat as you press it. Use a dampened press cloth rather than a steam iron. A standard steam iron doesn't produce enough steam to do the job right.
As for sites, these are the best.
http://users.pandora.be/tripticdesign/kilt_making.html

http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html

I've made 5 so far with number 6 in the works and I'm not ashamed to say I make em myself because I'm cheap It isn't really difficult but it is time consuming. The best advice I can give if you're using a solid color fabric is make a pleating template. Take a rectangle of cardboard the width being the full depth of the pleat then draw a line in from the edge the width of the exposed part of the pleat. Line it up on the edge of a pleat then fold the fabric over it to the line. That gives you the next pleat. It saves some time and alot of measuring.

[okiewan]

Great thanks so much.

[GMan]

A great bunch of lads, they are. I love the information they provide.

Also welcome to the forum.

Glen

[bubba]

There is one more little trick I came up with. On the part of the pleats that are going to be stitched down I use Stitch Witchery, a heat and stean activated adhesive tape, to hold those down instead of pins. It saves me headaches at the sewing machine. Stick those sections down with the tape and just stitch em down. No pins to hassle with. Be careful not to get the tape in the section of the pleats you want to be loose and to swing.

[Rhino]

Hi Bubba, I think you've answered this before but I need to turn up? cut off? about 4" of kilt for one of my sons. Where do I start? words of one syllable please, my technical knowledge is nil. Thanks mate.
Just a thought but you're rapidly becoming the handy andy of domestic kilt making 8)
Cheers Rhino

[bubba]

Easiest way is mark a line where you need to cut it off and run a narrow zig-zag stitch just above it, then cut it off just below the zig-zag stitch. You could hem it but I'm not sure that the pleats would look right on the hem.
Surprises me that people ask me for advice. I have only been sewing a bit over a year. A tailor I ain't.

[Rhino]

Yeah but I and most others have every faith you'll know the answer. And you did thanks mate I'll give it a go.
Cheers Rhino