Kilt Kamp 2017 - who's up for it?

[Barb T]

Time to start thinking ahead! Steve and I are bringing Kilt Kamp back to the northeast US next summer. If you don't know what Kilt Kamp's all about, you can see the photo journal from last summer's KK at http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...olumbia-91110/

Here are the details for Kilt Kamp 2017!

When: starts 8 am Sunday, July 23, ends 5 pm Friday, July 28.

Where: Hamilton College, Clinton, NY (about an hour east of Syracuse in the Mohawk Valley); low-cost housing is available in the dorms; motel and B&B options are available nearby.

Instructors: Barb Tewksbury (author of The Art of Kiltmaking) for traditional kiltmaking (knife, box, Kingussie, Reverse Kingussie) and Steve Ashton (owner of Freedom Kilts) for contemporary kiltmaking.

Cost: Looks like it will be similar to last year, which was $350 plus lodging. You provide tartan (or we can order tartan for you at wholesale prices) and other kilting materials.

We'll post the official registration thread after January 1.

Who's interested?

[H. Hastings]

Sign me up!

[Drymen Kilts]

Yes I am. I am going to make this work this year.
Last year turned out rather badly for getting away.
I will have to book flights so hopefully the dates are good.
One other question.


Carol-Ann

[javankrona]

Although I doubt I can make it this year, what are the pre-requisites So I can can be prepared for a date in the future? Note: I have not even attempted to sew on a button or hem a pair of pants. I don't want to show up one day completely inept.

[Stephan]

Yup, sign me up...marked on the calendar already!

[Barb T]

Although I doubt I can make it this year, what are the pre-requisites So I can can be prepared for a date in the future? Note: I have not even attempted to sew on a button or hem a pair of pants. I don't want to show up one day completely inept.

There really aren't any prerequisites. But it doesn't hurt to do a little practicing with a needle and thread. Find someone you know who sews, and have him/her teach you how to thread a needle, knot a thread, and do a simple blind stitch. You don't have to do this, but you'd feel better prepared!

[The Wizard of BC]

Perhaps Barb is being modest.

There is one prerequisite. Owning, and having read, a copy of "The Art of Kiltmaking". It does not matter if you wish to take Barb's traditional course or my contemporary course. We both start with TAoK.

"The Book" covers what you will be learning and explains the concepts behind what you will be doing. You don't need try to make a kilt from the book. That is what the course is about. But there is a lot more to making a kilt than there is to making a skirt and those ideas, those concepts are what the book give a really good idea of.

And you will learn all the secret words we will be using like Fell and Steeking.

And if you take the contemporary course you will learn the all important meaning of this.

[Mike in Dayton]

I plan on attending Steve's class this time. Time frame works out great. I will pull the road cruiser out of storage for another trip to New York.

Mike

[Barb T]

Magnifique!

[The Wizard of BC]

I have made arrangements to borrow one sewing machine for the use of those students who wish to partially or fully machine stitch their kilts.
But as I am flying I cannot bring another steam press.

If anyone who wishes to attend the contemporary course, and is driving, could pack a sewing machine and/or a steam iron that would really help.
I will bring pressing cloths to protect the classroom tables.

You can of course hand stitch a contemporary kilt. What defines a contemporary kilt is not how it is stitched. For example I will be bringing two completely hand stitched contemporary kilts to class so people can look at them.

But some parts of a Contemporary are better sewn by machine. Machine stitching is stronger so conforms to the first criteria of a Contemporary kilt - Durability.