Homemade contemporary kilt

[crboltz]

For the past few weeks we have had a young gentleman from our church's youth group living with my husband and I while he finishes high school. He admired my kilts (both the ones I made and ones purchased), and asked if I could make him a kilt for the upcoming gay pride festival in Fresno. Time was short, but since I'm a college professor, and already on summer break, I thought I could do it. I showed him several kilts and discussed options. The only rule I put into place was it had to be solid color (getting plaids or other patterns to line up gives me a headache, and it slows down my progress -- and we were on a time table.) He opted for a narrow apron, box pleat kilt. He requested I make it "low rise" like his jeans. I wasn't sure how to adapt (my adaptation of) the x-kilt to make it as low rise as he wanted it, but I was able to make it lower rise than a traditional kilt. He chose a kind of wine red fabric, and asked for a contrasting blue grey stitching, sewn down pleats (machine sewed), and belt loops. We grabbed a couple of pics of him. The pics are immediately after I finished it. He wore it the next day to school with one of my sporrans. And it was such a hit, he has asked when I'm making him another! I have started another on the addiction. Anyway, I know pics are important, so my husband snapped some pics, and assuming I uploaded them correctly, here they are:








Cheers
Chris

[CMcG]

Cool and unique

It appears that the pleats go all the way up to the waist without being sewn down and that the material is of a fairly stiff hand. Am I perceiving correctly?

[crboltz]

It appears that the pleats go all the way up to the waist without being sewn down and that the material is of a fairly stiff hand. Am I perceiving correctly?

Yes and no. The top 2 inches of the kilt is all sewn together, but it is done in such a way to look like a denim jeans detail which secretly provides the actually sew down section. The material is a fairly stiff cotton duck, but it will soften with wear and washing (at least my other two that I have done with similar fabric have).

Thanks for the compliment.

Cheers
Chris

EDIT: I just looked at the pics again, and noticed that Mekals' vest hides the top of the kilt. Maybe I should try to get some other pictures.

[Bugbear]

Sounds really good, crboltz.

[mark.priest]

The kilt is beautiful! I really like that color and the contrasting stitching. Well done.

[xman]

Nicely done and well worn!

[crboltz]

Xman, and Mark.priest,
Thanks for the compliments. Today was the pride festival, and he got lots of compliments (and has a date tonight -- so the power of the kilt works!)
Chris

[Spartan Tartan]

Very nice work. I like the overall look of the kilt and the colour choice is great. Well done.

[LitTrog]

It it weren't already occupied pumping blood, forcing it through plaque-choked arteries, my heart would be smiling! What an amazing gift and skillful adaptation...do you have any interest in fostering a 35 year-old man? I might have a terrible commute back to Colorado each morning, but I could probably benefit from such a loving environment--and a cool new custom kilt. Thank you for sharing, and give my best to the new young addict!

[Kiltboy]

A wonderful modern kilt. Love it. And I really dig the vest with the kilt.