What's Your Sewing Experience?

[Sherry]

I asked Alan this when he posted pics of his latest creation, but I'm curious about all you others attempting kilts for the first time. Do you have the basics down, or are you just jumping right into the kilt making? (Put that in the past tense, if necessary.)

Kilt making involves some tailoring, which could definitely be a challenge to the inexperienced. And some have much neater handsewing skills than others, tho' practice certainly helps.

So how has it been for you? Any surprises from the sewing p.o.v.?

Sherry

[bear]

I asked Alan this when he posted pics of his latest creation, but I'm curious about all you others attempting kilts for the first time. Do you have the basics down, or are you just jumping right into the kilt making? (Put that in the past tense, if necessary.)

Kilt making involves some tailoring, which could definitely be a challenge to the inexperienced. And some have much neater handsewing skills than others, tho' practice certainly helps.

So how has it been for you? Any surprises from the sewing p.o.v.?

Sherry

I had a ton of orders coming in and was still learning to sew.

A Canada-wide newspaper fashion article about Bear Kilts made me out to be somewhat more professional than I was at the time. I had sold exactly one classic cut kilt and made a classic cut and a grizzly cut for myself. (And a ton of designs that didn't work out.)

My biggest surprise is always when I push too hard on a needle and the eye end punctures my fingertip.

[Southern Breeze]

I'm about halfway through my first kiltmaking project.So far no surprises even though my prior sewing experiance is zilch.I do have a copy of The Art of Kiltmaking. I've never had problems learning new skills with uncanny ease.I have an open minded,can do attitude that probably helps.(and no,I'm not one of those who thinks they know it all)Far from it,I'm very aware of my limits..Being a landscape forman requires working knowlede of at least 4 dozen trades,patience diplomacy,an excellant sense of humor and common sense to name a few.Compared to my regular job,learning to sew a kilt is no biggie. :-D
If you're thinking of trying kiltmaking and know zero about sewing, don't be afraid to ask questions,look for referances and read any thing you can find.Above all,don't be afraid to screw up,it's how we all learn.

[mkmound]

. . .

My biggest surprise is always when I push too hard on a needle and the eye end punctures my fingertip.

Real men don't use thimbles?

Regards,
Mark

[Sherry]

I never looked for large size metal thimbles, but I hate them anyway, probably because I bite my nails. You might try a leather thimble, such as this one:
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/jump.j...ProductID=7842

Or make your own:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00077.asp

Sherry

[cormacmacguardhe]

I have a limited knowledge of sewing, but have done a few things in the past. Made my own caftan once. So, I am waiting for a copy of "The Art Of Kiltmaking" from my local library, not sure yet about fabric, but have some ideas in mind. With the help of the book and a little advice from my wife who used to sew alot, I hope to be off on the trip of making my own kilt.

[chasem]

I had limited knowledge when I jumped on this. I'm still working on my first kilt (taking my time with it), and I've learned a lot so far. But I started with absolutely no knowledge whatsoever. I'm learning, and I think my kilt looks great so far.

[MacHummel]

The first kilt I ever made was a denim kilt I went to Value Village and found 10 yrds for 3.00. I have a mother who is a seamtress so she got a ton of phone calls about how to make pleats. The needle of a sewing machine moves very fast and when it goes throw flesh it causes a lot of pain so lesson 1 if it bleeds keep it away from the pointy thing. Besides that in the beginning the worst part for me was taking accurate measurmnts( I have a kilt or two that are too long or too short) and using those number to make a kilt I'm no math expert so you can imagine the frustration when you are working with 6 yrds of fabric and you constantly ripping in apart to fix a mistake by a 1/4 of an inch.I still pull my hair out at times especially when I'm doing spilts and I have a million and one things going through my mind.
But when I finally got it I was like a kid that road a bike without training wheels for the first time I didn't want to stop. I owe a lot to my mother for sticking by the phone and a special wife who put up with my stuff.
In all my sewing experiences have been educational and fun.
MacHummel

[starbkjrus]

I'm just trying to teach myself to sew. (Don't even ask why we have a sewing macine) I'm not about to attempt a kilt - I can't even get the needle to pick up the bobbin thread without sewing the fabric to the bobbin.

Sign me: Getting REALLY fed up with sewing. Please PM me if anyone has an idea.

[Alan H]

Don't like needles? Tired of pushing needles through six layers of heavy twill?

Try a sailmakers Palm...

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat278.htm

Or for a REALLY nice one ( I have this one) order from the Wooden Boat Foundation. These are British and EXCELLENT quality for the price..

http://www.woodenboat.org/store/folder.asp?f=255

I have the "Store Quality Seaming Palm" and it's a beauty. I bought it and soaked it in warm water for 2-3 hours. Then I taped it on my hand and wore it all day. fits perfectly, never slips...I love that palm. I restitched twelve feet of ripped out luff on the mainsail of an Islander 36 with that palm.