Deconstructing a kilt

[Robert Lamb]

I purchased 5 yds of blue denim from Jo Ann's and made two kilts from said material.
One I wear quite often as a casual around home and camping. The other is more of a 50 yd kilt, so I decided to take it apart and do it over.
It has been almosr as much work deconstructing and it was constructing it in the first place.
What a pain in the!!

[vorpallemur]

I purchased 5 yds of blue denim from Jo Ann's and made two kilts from said material.
One I wear quite often as a casual around home and camping. The other is more of a 50 yd kilt, so I decided to take it apart and do it over.
It has been almosr as much work deconstructing and it was constructing it in the first place.
What a pain in the!!

with denim, you should be able to use a seam ripper between the layers of fabric. Get one that's got a U - shaped hook, with one prong shorter than the other, and with a safety ball on the prong. The ball goes on the side of the seam you can't see. pull the seam slightly apart, and start cutting the threads.

[Pleater]

If you can ever find old fashioned cotton sewing thread - at a charity shop/goodwill or where an old house is being emptied it is worth getting because it is far more fragile than the modern thread with man made fibres added.

As long as the seam is not under stress it should be fine, and when you want to reclaim the fabric is is just a matter of cutting the start and stop of the thread and pulling - at least for medium and heavy fabrics.

I bought a lot of reels of cotton thread on a market stall years ago, for pennies each one, and am still using them. I have remade some of my kilts three or four times, and the ease of taking them apart reduces the strain on the fabric.

It is rather an alteration to the modern philosopy of garment building, but where the fabric is expensive and reusable it makes sense to reduce the risk of damage to the fabric if a seam is pulled open.

Anne the Pleater

[Robert Lamb]

with denim, you should be able to use a seam ripper between the layers of fabric. Get one that's got a U - shaped hook, with one prong shorter than the other, and with a safety ball on the prong. The ball goes on the side of the seam you can't see. pull the seam slightly apart, and start cutting the threads.

That is the tool I use. Infact I have three of them, one at my sewing machine, one at my lounger and on in my sewing kilt I keep in my Vanagon.
Still it is tedious work for my old eyes. But it is something to do other than browing the net which is hard on the eyes also.
I think I will use the material for a kilt for my #2 son, David.

[Dixiecat]

Still it is tedious work for my old eyes

I highly recommend an Ott-type lamp. One that simulates natural light. You can find such lights at Joanns or office supply stores.

[Smayniac]

I highly recommend an Ott-type lamp. One that simulates natural light. You can find such lights at Joanns or office supply stores.

I got mine with a hefty discount coupon that a well known craft store offers several times a year.
Bob