Hybred kilts......?

[Blu (Ontario)]

Has anyone of the forum...

a. Made a fully traditional style kilt in denim,

or

b. Purchased such a beast someplace.

I've been contemplating having a solid color traditional kilt made up in a modern fabric... possibly green denim with brown straps. I would endeavor to ensure that the fabric was adequately pre-shrunk before sending it off the the kiltmaker.

Is there a better fabric (other than polyvscose or worsted wool) to do this. ...and Leather is just out of the budget picture on this project.

I currently have a hemp kilt on order from R-Kilts...
but this new one would be intended more as a hybred between modern and traditional.

Any ideas, oh my bekilted sisters and brothers?

[Mark Keeney]

Check out Freedom Kilts. The dress model is what you are describing.

[RockyR]

one of our Scottish vendors makes them (not Kelly and I, but a company that makes jackets for us who also makes kilts)... I can order it directly from Scotland. If I were to order it, retail would be about $200...

Last I had even discussed this was at the trade show in Glasgow in January. If I remember correctly, he suggested that if a denim "traditional" kilt was ordered, you would probably only want 5 or 6 yards of material. He could MAKE an 8 yard denim kilt, but it would be more expensive, too heavy and the swing wouldn't be any better.

If you want a true "hybrid" between a Trad and a Contemporary, check out Steve at FK or Robert at Rkilts

[Kilted KT]

I have one made of duck cloth from O'Nielle. close to denim.

[O'Neille]

I've got the denim just waiting to become a kilt. It's very dark indigo and could be sewn w/ matching or contrasting(orange) thread. I can also heartily recommend Corduroy. There should be a review showing up soon of one I did. Or Trigger (Poly/cotton) almost bombproof and wrinkle resistant too. O'Neille

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... you would probably only want 5 or 6 yards of material. He could MAKE an 8 yard denim kilt, but it would be more expensive, too heavy and the swing wouldn't be any better.

This is interesting. I'll certainly keep this in mind!

... check out Steve at FK or Robert at Rkilts

I have looked at both. In fact I have an R-Kilt on order but for this new project, I wanted a fully traditional kilt with no domes or clips.

... I can also heartily recommend Corduroy.

I have 2 concerns with that... the pile wearing thin and leats that hang straight.?

... I have one made of duck cloth from O'Nielle. close to denim.

A possibility.... It's quite stiff isn't it?


.

[Kid Cossack]

Blu:

I could be wrong, but I believe that the Freedom Kilts dress model has buckles and straps, not domes or clips.

http://www.freedomkilts.com/store/wizard/1/1

It was a near thing with me, but I went with the seven yard denim from the Kiltstore.net. I think it's going to be a neat kilt, and I'll certainly keep everyone advised.

[The Wizard of BC]

I don't usually use other parts of this forum to talk about my own kilts but my name was mentioned so I don't think I'll offend anyone.

Blu, Are you dead set on denim for your kilt?

I experimented with a lot of fabrics before chosing the 34 I carry right now and have found Denim to be a terrible fabric for kilts.
1. They are far too stiff. regardless of the amount of fabric used swish is at a minimum.
2. They shrink at different rates warpwise vs weftwise. So there is always puckering at every stitch line.
3. They are a Cotton fabric so always prone to wrinkling. Any Cotton fabric will wrinkle and needs constant ironing.

Is this the kind of kilt you are asking about?



It is my Dress Model made from a 60/40 Poly/Cotton blend in Khaki color.
There are two side slash pockets.

And this is the exact same model of kilt done in the X Marks Tartan. 14oz. Wool.



My Dress Model retains full Traditional Kilt styling with all the Contemporary features I think you are asking for.
They even swish.



I hope this answers your questions. Yes, there is someone out there producing the type of kilt I believe your post was asking for.

[Pleater]

I have used a variety of fabrics for kilts, making them in traditional knife pleats to start with and progressing to Kinguisse style, and then reversing the pleat direction - so something which is probably distinctly my own but never the less very traditional.

A light soft denim might do, but a kilt looks best in a fabric which has some drape, that is it will distort, so it lays flat when pulled diagonally rather than wrinkle. That will give you a good swish and also allow the pleats to lie flat over the curves of the body.

I do not sew the fell, but I do press it in when necessary.

I find that fabrics with a smooth fairly hard surface make pleats which move most freely. I suspect that a needle corduroy might be OK, but anything with a higher nap might not move well, but tend to cling together.

I tend to look for fabrics which are the same warp and weft - (so denim would not qualify there), quite dense, smooth surfaced with drape and some slither - there is probably a more technical term for it but slither is descriptive. It can be a nuisance if trying to machine sew it, but once made up it gives a great feel of opulance as it moves around you.

I started off making fairly small pleats of 5 inches, and have now done an 8 yard kilt with 9 inch pleats - in a jet black lightly peached heavy cotton fabric. I was doubtful about the peaching, but with that as the inside it feels great and moves well.

Some fabrics with a man made fibre content have a slightly fuzzy surface which clings to itself, but they can be improved for kilting with a careful ironing - you need to smooth the surface without making it over polished, so a good iron which controls its temperature quite closely is essential, and you might need to go over it lightly two or three times rather than try to get the effect in one go. If you are doubtful about this just make the kilt up with the fabric as it is, better a bit less swish than a ruined piece of fabric.

Although I am used to making a lot of my own clothes, I have found that making kilts is very satisfying as they seem to be rather more than the sum of their parts, and can thoroughly recommend it.

[Tartan Hiker]

Steve,
Great looking kilts. With the 60/40 do you stitch the pleat edges or just press them?