Photos of Pleat Sewing Position?

[usonian]

I apologize for starting a new thread, but for the life of me I just can't find the previous discussion where Barb posted some super-helpful photos demonstrating the kilt-pinned-under-right-leg pleat sewing position. I'm hoping someone can point me to it, or just bump the original.

Many thanks!

-Andy

[Barb T]

Here they are:

[Aspiringloser]

That method cuts the circulation to my feet off. I adapted a method I use for packing parachutes. I use a spring clamp and adjustable bungee cord. Clamp the fabric several inches below where you'll be sewing. Attach one end of the bungee cord to the clamp and the other to the table. Adjust the length of the bungee cord so that when you pull the fabric tight with your left hand the spot where you're sewing will be right in front of you. As you progress with your stitching, move the clamp up with your progress if necessary. I tried using a clamp and bungee cord at each end in order to eliminate having to pull the fabric tight but this didn't work as well as I thought it would. The only down side to this method is that it is hard to bend the fabric as you would over your knee. I have to use the straight in and straight out method with the needle rather than bending the fabric and going in at an angle. It takes longer to do it this way but it made it possible for me to comfortably sew accurate pleats.

[usonian]

Thanks so much, Barb! I promptly bookmarked this thread this time.

On attempting this technique (which is made very clear by the photos, thank you again!), I have discovered that I can't do it at all; my thigh seems to be a bit too, ahem... girthy, which means that 1) in order to tuck the fabric under the right side I have to pull everything so far over to the right that it's at an unworkable angle for sewing, and 2) my right leg falls asleep instantly.

After some finagling I wound up still clamping right over left, but holding the fell over my left thigh while stitching. Better, but less than ideal. I may try something else for the next pleat.

I also want to cross-reference another discussion for anyone else who is just getting started:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-please-51995/

...in which people discuss various clamping methods they've come up with, and Barb mentions using multiple pins when folding and stitching pleats. I'm all for doing things "by the book" and knowing how to do things 100% traditionally, but I think I would go crazy trying to manage both the tension and keeping the pleat straight and the correct width with only one pin.

-Andy

[xman]

That method cuts the circulation to my feet off.

Sometimes I simply tuck the cloth under my thigh without crossing my legs. Since it really doesn't take a lot of tension it works fine for me unless the kilt is very small.