[xman]

I'm thinking of cutting my kilt making teeth on a few kilted skirts for my nieces and another young friend. Provided they are not worn too short like many girls today seem to prefer I think that they can look quite smart. Unfortunately, when worn at the knee and constructed like a man's kilt it looks like the wearer really belongs in a pipe and drum band rather than smartly dressed. Keeping in mind that my young models are currently between eight and eleven years old.

1. How long should a girl's formal kilt be?

2. How should such kilts be constructed? knife? box? buckles? buttons?

3. How many yards should I look to buy?

4. Are there any special considerations I should be aware of?

All assistance appreciated,

X

[gilmore]

There is no such thing as a girl's or a woman's kilt. The kilt is a man's garment. Women wear things similar that are called kilted skirts.

[xman]

Originally Posted by gilmore

There is no such thing ...

Pffffffffffff.

[Pleater]

Well - 50 or more years ago in the North of England I wore kilts which were made - as far as I can remember, exactly like a man's kilt - in that the outer fastenings, strap and buckle, were on the right and they had knife pleats which turned anticlockwise. They were longer than knee length.

The inside fastening was a short piece of elastic with a loop of cord at the end which fitted onto buttons - I remember two but there might have been three originally, they were not new when I got them.

It must have been good quality cloth as it took me several years to ruin them completely - ordinary clothing did not last long, somehow.

I will agree that there is no such thing as a girl's or woman's kilt - a kilt is a kilt.

But, to answer your questions

1. As long as she would like it to be.
2. Pleated to her requirements
3.That depends on the answers to 1 and 2. Consider cutting the fabric across from selvage to selvage to reduce waste.
4. Have you not been around women much then lad?

Seriously, though, the pipe band look is reduced - I think - by making the pleats not so deep and narrow, and by using a tartan that is not predominantly red.

Anne Croucher

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Originally Posted by xman

1. How long should a girl's formal kilt be?

If I were making this for my eight year old daughter, I'd make it at least below the knee, probably closer to mid-calf, for general wear You use the word "formal." If I were making this for a dress occasion I'd want to make it ankle length. This just represents my preferences.

2. How should such kilts be constructed? knife? box? buckles? buttons?

Those options are all matters of preference. I've seen all kinds of closure options and pleating styles on girls' tartan skirts, including velcro, and including a mixture of the above (i.e. buttons or velcro on the inside apron closure, but a leather strap on the outer apron).

3. How many yards should I look to buy?

Assuming she's an average size young girl, I'd think 2 yards would be more than sufficient. I'd recommend a lighter weight, 10oz or 11oz would work great.

Good luck!

[auld argonian]

I'm assuming that you're interested in making a kilt that's the female equivalent of what we here all wear. While browsing at Goodwill and Salvation Army resale stores, my daughter and I often come across the skirts that are sort of the kilt type ("Look...tartan....grab it...it might be a kilt that slipped past the sorters!"). These usually have very shallow pleats, do not have a liner, are mini to knee length and don't really have overlapping aprons. These were very hip back in the Sixties and I distinctly remember my first girlfriend wearing them...and wearing them very well...ah, youth! Don't know if these are of any interest to you in this project but looking at some Seventeen Magazines of the period will give you the look...they were often worn with sort of oversized, cable knit, turtleneck sweaters...I'm getting carried away by nostalgia, eh?

And women can (and should) wear kilts...the regular kind or the kind of "lite" version that I've described above.

Best

AA

[Dixiecat]

There is no such thing as a girl's or a woman's kilt.

Sigh. A kilt is a kilt is a kilt no matter who wears it.

As a person of the female persuasion who's worn both a kilt and a kilted skirt I can wholeheartedly say that one is not like the other. Only a kilt swings and swirls like a kilt. A kilted skirt is a very sad imitation.

Unfortunately, when worn at the knee and constructed like a man's kilt it looks like the wearer really belongs in a pipe and drum band rather than smartly dressed

Excuse me? Using this argument, any person wearing a kilt (man or woman) constructed like a man's kilt will look like the wearer really belongs in a pipe and drum band rather than smartly dressed. And, seeing all the handsome kilted men on this forum, I know that this statement has to be false.

Anyway, just for the fun factor I would make a real kilt, but use light-weight tartan. But, why not choose a dance tartan? There's some very lovely dance tartans that your daughter might like.

[auld argonian]

It may be a wee bit O.T. but this is what I was talkin' about:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/13078146...isses-swinging

...I loved the Sixties!

Best

AA

[Dixiecat]

That pattern only has pleats at the side fronts. Looks good from the front, but not even close to a kilted skirt, let alone a kilt.

[xman]

Originally Posted by xman

Girls' kilts ... it looks like the wearer really belongs in a pipe and drum band ... formal ...

Guess I should watch my language. Everyone is getting hung up on semantics on me.

I just meant that I want to make sure the girls don't end up looking like they're wearing men's kilts when they wear them to a birthday party or to school even. I'm thinking that sewing them at the waist without a rise and tailoring them either just above or just below rather than at the knee might do the trick. I might wrap the apron from right to left if I can figure that out as well.

I'm thinking of using poly/wool too. Will that function pretty much like pure wool.