Fleece kilt?

[Cowher]

Hi all.
I want to wear a kilt at home lounging around and just relaxing. I decided to try and make a box pleated kilt myself. It will be my first kilt. I have The Art of Kiltmaking. So I'm ready to give it a go. Here's my question:

Will fleece be ok for a in the house kilt?

I am going to sew the pleat edges much like USAKilts Perma Pleat™ to retain the kilt look. It will have a elastic waistband and it will be sewn closed (no Velcro closure or straps) So I would put it on like sweatpants.

So what does everyone think? Any suggestions?

[Bugbear]

I think it would depend on how heavy or thick the fleece is.

It does make me think it would be cool to have a belted plaid with sewn in, "cheater pleats," made from thick blanket materiel as a house robe.
That's not a pole option, though.

[azwildcat96]

I voted to "go for it". I personally wouldn't want one or wear one, but if you think it will work, give it a try.

[CMcG]

It's worth a try though it might be kind of bulky in the pleats, depending on how thick the fleece is...

Sounds like you're interested in making your own version of the "Comfy Kilt" by Sportkilt, which is sewn up in cotton flannel. Check it out:

http://www.sportkilt.com/category/57/Comfy-Kilt.html

[kc8ufv]

I say go for it. Just, with my familiarity with fleece, you may need to stitch in all the pleats, as fleece won't hold a crease at all. It's virtually impossible to get it to even wrinkle. And, I mean 4 lines of stitching on a box pleat.

[Chas]

Won't fleece be a bit hot and heavy for indoors at home. A lightweight canvas would be far more airy and breathable.

Regards

Chas

[Kiltboy]

I have a wrap around designed for out-of-the-shower wear. Velcro fastener, and made of terrycloth. It doesn't have pleats, but is still comfy to wear around the house.

So I say, go for it.

[Spartan Tartan]

I can't imagine fleece holding any sort of crease of pleat, but go for it. I see you are in the Northeast, so it'll probably be nice and comfy in the winter to lounge about the house.

[Pleater]

Fleece is rather clinging - I'd recommend making it a bit longer than knee length just in case it gets a bit tucked up, and with deep under apron pleats too - when lounging on the couch you don't want draughts.

More traditional kilt materials tend to be non clinging so the fabric opens out easily around the hem. They are quite dense too - fleece is low density so it will not fall or flow easily.

I am leaning more towards trying to talk you out of it the more I think about it.

How about finding a good quality duvet cover - king size, and cutting each side into three strips and a waistband?

You could then make two reverse Kingussie kilts, no need to sew the fell, just the waistband and hem, sew on a couple of buttons to hold it closed and then you could sprawl about as you pleased with ample coverage at all times and angles.

Anne the Pleater

[Pyper]

I recently made an inverness cape out of fleece, and it works well. Easy to work with too, because hems are optional. I was a little concerned about the potential "cling" factor, but it hasn't been a problem.

Fleece is really cheap, so I say go for it. If you don't like it, sell it on ebay. I'd keep pleats to a minimum.

I don't think I'd wear such a thing in public, but around the house, why not? Sometimes I don't wear anything around the house... Just sayin'.