Request for someone to teach me to baste pleats

**Moosedog** · 22nd August 07, 12:10 PM

Hi, I'm just bumping this as I have basting questions, too. Everything I have read or see seems to indicate that I baste the pleats after sewing them down between the waist and fell. I'm one of those people who has managed to avoid basting things (per Barb's book) my whole life, but even so it seems that basting the pleats first, when laying out the kilt, would make the project easier to handle and simpler to sew the pleats in at the top. Any comments on opinions on this? Am I missing something completely? (I have been known to do this!)

Thanks for your input,
Moosedog

**The Wizard of BC** · 22nd August 07, 01:01 PM

Some kiltmakers baste before sewing, some after. Barb's book is for a Traditional method of kiltmaking and works very well. I prefer her method of having the bulk of the fabric on the table in front of you and only the pleat you are working on in your lap, to pinning everything together then holding everything in your lap at once. But that is when hand stitching.

Machine stitching is a whole different world. Now you need to get all that fabric onto the sewing table in some controlled way so you can get it under the needle so basting first is a good way.

Try both and use the one that works for you.

**Moosedog** · 22nd August 07, 03:11 PM

OK, thanks Steve! I had only seen basting the pleats done one way and wanted to make sure there wasn't a big drawback to doing it before. You description of hand- vs. machine-stitiching issues is helpful, so I will do as advised and baste when and where it makes sense!

Moosedog

**The Wizard of BC** · 22nd August 07, 03:18 PM

"where it makes sense."

OMG!! this stuff is supposed to make sense??

**way2fractious** · 22nd August 07, 03:50 PM

The reason for not first basting the pleats below the fell in a handsewn kilt is because of the need to keep shoving handfuls of tartan between your crossed legs in order to stitch the seams above the fell. The needed tension and alignment of stripes is achieved by pulling on the tartan with one hand while sewing with the other. Only basting thread on steroids would withstand such treatment, and it still wouldn't be good for the fabric.

**The Wizard of BC** · 22nd August 07, 11:05 PM

And remember that the basting stitches are only put in to keep the pleats aligned during pressing. If you use pins it will leave unsightly puckers.

I believe the reason this thread was started was a question about how to do the basting in preparation for a re-press. Not about basting during construction. I find that pins work far better during construction. Put them in to hold things in place while stitching then quickly remove and re-position them.