the stabilizer inside a kilt

[Barb T]

This came up in another post, and I thought I'd start a new one with just this as the subject instead of burying this at the end of a couple of pages of replies. Someone asked about stabilizers and how big they are and so on. I finally managed to remember to take a picture of a kilt with the stabilizer strip sewn in. I've also included a closeup so that you can see how the stitching is done. Although there is a lot of stitching on the strip to stabilize everything, all of the stitching has to be done so that none of it goes through to the outside of the kilt. So the stitches go through all of the layers except the very outside one.

Basically, this is a strip of non-stretchy fabric that is put in along the waistline and underneath the canvas. It keeps the waistline from stretching and from too much stress being put on the pleat stitching when a kilt is buckled tightly.





Just as an aside - I've mentioned in other posts "all that internal construction" that adds to the cost of a properly-made kilt and that makes it hold its shape forever. This is an example of that kind of thing. It never shows, but it's crucial.

Barb

[HeathBar]

I'll throw in a pic of the stabilizer I used. It's not as patriotic as Barbs, but it worked. I used some leftover cotton muslin from another project.

[sav]

Thanks for the clarification, Barb.

[JimB]

Many thanks Barb!

[turpin]

I wonder whose kilt that is..... Oh, that's right, now I remember.

[Barb T]

Tee hee - yes, it's Turpin's quite fab kilt!

B

[Retro Red]

Thanks, Barb, for "flagging" us down on the inner workings of the kilt!

I salute you!
.

[auld argonian]

So when is this second edition (featuring that incredibly tasteful Isle of Skye kilt that some lucky X'smarkser is waiting so patiently for) scheduled to be released?

Best

AA

[Barb T]

So when is this second edition (featuring that incredibly tasteful Isle of Skye kilt that some lucky X'smarkser is waiting so patiently for) scheduled to be released?

Best

AA

Ahhh, depends on my work load. I'm hoping that I can have everything ready to go to the printer before second semester starts. If I don't, it will be June (I'm teaching an overload this spring, and my daughter is getting married right after Memorial Day...). So, I'll know better by mid-January. It will be a real squeeze to get it done by then, particularly if I have issues with converting my old PageMaker files to InDesign files. I've done some testing, and it doesn't look like it will be as straightforward as I'd hoped. I _really_ hope I don't have to go back to the original drawing scans and relabel all of them, but I might. I'm having font issues. What I need to do is go visit my InDesign guru friend and hope he has an easy solution.

On a cheerier note, I just spent the weekend down in North Carolina with Matt Newsome to see how he makes box-pleated kilts so that I can make one and then write a credible chapter that he can sign off on. He's also going to add some info on the history of box-pleated and knife-pleated kilts. When I was there, I got to see some antique kilts - one box-pleated kilt that dates from the early 1800s!!

Cheers!

Barb

[Kiltman]

Thanks Barb for the pictures. Some illustrations like these might be worth including in you book.