My first self made tank

**hospitaller** · 21st July 08, 08:40 AM

I posted on Friday about Baer's going out of business and how I got 8 yards of worsted 16 oz twill wool material in slate color for $16.75 total.

Well, I spent about 9 hours on Saturday measuring, cutting, sewing and sweating until I finished my first, very own, self made TANK! 22 knife pleats (1.25" reveal, 4" deep)

Amazing the difference the wool's weight make to the overall feel of the thing. The pleats swing just by looking at them and they stay sharp no matter what.

I've been wanting to get a solid kilt to wear to work with my nice plaid shirts but having only tartan kilts the mix would have been horrendous.

I could not take pictures of the process because my wife was using our camera, but I did take these snaps this morning on my way out to work, proudly wearing my new kilt.

When I get home I'll take some more detailed pics of the pleats and internal details for those interested. I used SWK's straps.

Black flashes to bring out the black lines of the shirt.

Excuse the weird distortions/blurriness but it was so torridly humid this morning that when walking outside the house the camera fogged up.

**Panache** · 21st July 08, 08:43 AM

It looks very good Hector!

Well done

Cheers

Jamie

**Splash_4** · 21st July 08, 08:45 AM

Very, very nice.... 9 hours is all? WOW. What pattern did you use?

**hospitaller** · 21st July 08, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Splash_4

Very, very nice.... 9 hours is all? WOW. What pattern did you use?

Thanks, no pattern at all.

Simply measured myself, then laid the fabric, pleated it, pinned and basted it.

Started tack sewing at the hips first to make sure the dimensions were correct, then started sewing up the fell tapering until I got my waist dimensions.

Another test fit and it was all over but the shouting at about 8 PM.

I guess this qualifies as a 'traditional"?

**hospitaller** · 21st July 08, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

It looks very good Hector!

Well done

Cheers

Jamie

Thanks Jamie.

If you can't find the kilt you want, make your own is my new motto.

**meinfs** · 21st July 08, 12:00 PM

Very well done!! Congratulations on your first self made!!

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My DIY Kilt # 1
My DIY Kilt # 2

**Spc. Scott** · 21st July 08, 12:14 PM

Wow that is quite a show of talent. Congrats on a great looking kilt. I need to come up with the same sort of thing as a lot of my shirts for work are a plaid of some kind.

**ardchoille** · 21st July 08, 12:30 PM

Hector, that looks quite nice. I'm still learning about kiltmaking and plan to make my own someday.. as soon as they publish "Patience for dummies". I hope that I can look that good when I'm done.