 | 
09-12-2006, 03:27 PM
|  | Father of The X-Kilt | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: California, USA
Posts: 8,606
| | | Nothing slows down kiltmaking like stupidity
I'm working on KCW's X-Kilt. I've been working on it for a flippin WEEK and I've only just sewn down the pleats.
I cut it out...fine.
Then I chalked on the pleat lines and so on. When I was done I stood up to inspect my work and dang but those pleats don't look straight. Sure enough, the pleating points at the hem were 1 1/2 inches off where they were at the waist. OK so I toothbrushed off all the chalk marks and did it again the next day.
DANGIT, I got off again and had to toothbrush all the marks off AGAIN. Third time I used a long tape measure and make SURE they were right, but it took me two flippin' hours because I kept getting 2 1/2 inches off....the difference between the width of the top of the pleat and the under-pleat width).
I seriously started to wonder about my mental state, ya know? I mean this isn't that hard, but Lord knows I could NOT get it right.. OK so when that was finally done I went to thread the machine....I've got about 1/10th of a spool of dark blue thread left. OK so now I have to buy thread. Next day, I'm out shopping.....but I space out on going to the fabric shop. GAAAAAAa... well I FINALLY have thread again, but sheesh.
No WAY will I ever do this for a living!
|
09-12-2006, 04:30 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chatsworth Georgia, USA
Posts: 3,865
| |
Don't let it worry you. Just charge by the hour. 
I've had the same thing happen while making a kilt.
__________________
Armageddon was yesterday. Today we have real problem.
|
09-12-2006, 04:51 PM
|  | Has not logged in for 1 year | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 1,138
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Southern Breeze Don't let it worry you. Just charge by the hour.
I've had the same thing happen while making a kilt. | but if he charged by the hour he would have to charge next to nothing to make them affordable :P
|
09-12-2006, 06:00 PM
| | Membership Revoked | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: A long time ago in a kilt far, far away
Posts: 3,157
| | |
it will come to you...My first sporran took hours and hours and hours, and it still didn't turn out the way I wanted. Give it some time, and you'll figure out how to make them the best way that works for you.
KT
|
09-13-2006, 06:19 AM
|  | Author of "The Art of Kiltmaking" | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deansboro, NY
Posts: 2,136
| | |
What _really_ slows down kiltmaking is a broken wrist. I broke mine in late July when I was doing field work in Iceland, and both kiltmaking and piping ground to a complete halt. I just got the brace off my wrist, though, and I'm finally back in business!
I'd trade all your marking hassles for my broken wrist, Alan!!
Barb
|
09-13-2006, 06:35 AM
|  | Has not logged in for 1 year | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 38
| | |
I just finished my X-Kilt. In order to make sure I had all my marking right I borrowed a friends sheetrock t-square. It's about 4ft long and fits perfectly on the edge of a table. If your still having problems with it you might want to look into one of these.
|
09-13-2006, 07:56 AM
|  | Retired House Chairman | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Space Coast, FL
Posts: 3,601
| | |
Alan, take a break! Sounds like one too many XKilts in too short a time frame. Focus on something else for a few days. I've found that if I keep working on something and making mistakes, it is better to back off and try again after I have relaxed a bit. I actually was reading the XKilt instructions this past weekend and it has incented me to pull out the stitches on the first kilt I started and did not finish and remake it as an XKilt. Then I have some other fabric I bought at the same time that should work well too.
And Kiltedturtle, that is a fantastic idea!
__________________
Life is too short to pay attention to the stupid, and WAY too short to waste time educating them. Ignorance can be cured through education, but not stupidity.
|
09-13-2006, 08:00 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northglenn, Colorado, USA
Posts: 3,079
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Barb T. What _really_ slows down kiltmaking is a broken wrist. I broke mine in late July when I was doing field work in Iceland, and both kiltmaking and piping ground to a complete halt. I just got the brace off my wrist, though, and I'm finally back in business!
I'd trade all your marking hassles for my broken wrist, Alan!!
Barb | Ouch  not a good thing to happen at any time. Glad to hear it's starting to get back to normal.
|
09-13-2006, 09:22 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 705
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by KiltedTurtle I just finished my X-Kilt. In order to make sure I had all my marking right I borrowed a friends sheetrock t-square. It's about 4ft long and fits perfectly on the edge of a table. If your still having problems with it you might want to look into one of these. | This sounds like a wonderful idea and you can bet I'm going to try it.
Sorry to hear about your wrist Barbara!  | |
| X Marks Advertisers |  |  For Quality Scottish Made Products at Affordable Prices |  |  | |
|
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
|
