Revisions for The Art of Kiltmaking - X Marks the Scot

Barb T. · #1 10-28-2006, 03:58 PM

Hi folks!

I'm looking for input for the second edition of The Art of Kiltmaking. If you have used the first edition to make a kilt, I would be grateful for suggestions about parts that were confusing or could be more clearly explained. I do know that some of the information in the appendix on sources for materials and some of the web sites are outdated, and I will be fixing that.

If you have suggestions, please PM me. If you like the book, found it useful, and want to give me a testamonial sentence or two that I could use for advertising, I would be thrilled.

If you are part of Barb's Posse, and you haven't gotten back to me, now's the time! I'd love to get jpegs of your kilt as well.

Looks like the new chapter on box-pleated kilts is going to happen with Matt's help. I'm going down to visit him in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Barb

gilmore · #2 10-28-2006, 05:08 PM

Do you know when it will be published?

Barb T. · #3 10-29-2006, 06:21 AM

Some time next spring, probably. Or maybe early summer. My workload in the spring is going to be pretty stiff. I'm teaching an extra course next spring, and our daughter is getting married in early June. It really depends on how much progress I make before the middle of January whether I can get it done to print this spring or have to finish it after her wedding.

In any event, I indicated on a different thread that I plan to have extra copies of the new chapter on box pleated kilts printed and available in a sticky-back envelope that someone could buy separately and stick onto the inside back cover of the 1st edition if they've already bought the first edition and just want to get the box-pleat chapter. I'll make some other minor changes, but that way, someone won't have to buy the whole second edition if they just want the box pleat instructions. At least that's my plan at the moment!

Cheers,

Barb

BLAZN · #4 10-29-2006, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barb T.

Hi folks!

I'm looking for input for the second edition of The Art of Kiltmaking. If you have used the first edition to make a kilt, I would be grateful for suggestions about parts that were confusing or could be more clearly explained. I do know that some of the information in the appendix on sources for materials and some of the web sites are outdated, and I will be fixing that.

If you have suggestions, please PM me. If you like the book, found it useful, and want to give me a testamonial sentence or two that I could use for advertising, I would be thrilled.

If you are part of Barb's Posse, and you haven't gotten back to me, now's the time! I'd love to get jpegs of your kilt as well.

Looks like the new chapter on box-pleated kilts is going to happen with Matt's help. I'm going down to visit him in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Barb

I own the book and have churned out 3 kilts using it.

Changes I would make...

1) Add in some info regarding going the non-traditional machine sewn route.
2) Some of the figures which are drawings could be actual photos, or even both.

Hmm... that's all I can think of right now. Hope I'v ebeen at least a little helpful here.

I'll PM this to you as well... I posted this here to see if anyone agreed.

Barb T. · #5 10-29-2006, 08:35 AM

Hi Blazn

Thanks for the feedback. Because Steve Ashton and I are collaborating on a companion book called The Art of Contemporary Kiltmaking, I'm not going to include anything about machine-made kilts in the revision, which will remain focused on traditional, hand-sewn kilts.

Let me give some thought to the photo issue. It's not a problem to take photos and replace the drawings with the photos. There is some research to suggest, though, that people do better with line drawings that show only what's important - photos have all kinds of extraneous detail that can be distracting or even confusing. Let me look over the drawings and see which might benefit from a photo instead of a line drawing. If you have particular suggestions about drawings that didn't work well for you and that would be better as photos, I'd be delighted to have specific suggestions.

Barb

bubba · #6 10-29-2006, 09:32 AM

Barb, I'd be happy to give the book an endorsement. Do you want it emailed, PM'd or just posted? I'm looking forward the the additional chapter on box pleating, put me on the list for it. I'm also looking forward to the contemporary kilt book, it'll be a must have for my library.

Barb T. · #7 10-29-2006, 12:05 PM

Any of those ways is fine.

B

Alan H · #8 10-29-2006, 10:07 PM

MY ENDORSEMENT:

I used Barbara and Elsies book to make my very first heavyweight tartan kilt, and I'm on my way to making two more. That first kilt was a big investment in time, but it was worth it. Without the book it would have taken me three times as long and my kilt wouldn't have been nearly as good. The instructions are clear and understandable, the illustrations are helpful, and the background information on kilts and tartan is very useful. The book is worth every penny of its very modest price.

For the first-time kiltmaker looking to make a traditional kilt or for for someone who wants to see how a very experienced kiltmaker does the job, I heartily recommend this book!

Alan Hebert
San Francisco Bay Area

beerbecue · #9 10-30-2006, 06:16 AM

How about some additional tips and tricks?

For example, what to do if your apron edge curls, some illustrations on how to properly iron (I just can't quite visualize that part, I have never before used a ham)

HeathBar · #10 10-30-2006, 07:02 AM

I found that using basic cotton thread for the basting was not working for me. It was too thin and wore out quickly. I used the white polyester thread like the regular stitches for the second kilt and found it worked much better.