Advice on kiltmaking supplies?

**ardchoille** · 26th August 08, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

Ah, that is refreshing to hear. He must be a maker of quality kilts...

Hope all goes well for your project, ardchoille.

Thanks! I'm sure it will go well. I'm currently waiting on some 13 ounce worsted wool. I've written down all the advice I've received and will do my best to incorporate it all.

You folks are great

**ChattanCat** · 26th August 08, 06:00 PM

I'd recommend that you get some material from Fraser & Kirkbright remnants You can't beat the price and it will give you something so you can go all the way thru the process of making a kilt. You don't learn everything on the first kilt. There will be things that if you make more kilts, you will look back and see the flaws in your first kilt... The more you make the better you get - simple! I took the approach; this is a piece of material that I want to learn everything once. Some of the things I did had other impacts and you would not learn that without going all the way thru it.

**Prester John** · 26th August 08, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

"Practice Tartan" is actually a misnomer. You can practice on any Tartan fabric. Until you actually cut away the pleats in the Fell any stitches you put in can be ripped out and re-done at your leisure.
My advice is to find the best fabric you can afford. Go ahead and stitch it up practicing on sewing the Fell until you get it perfect. Rip out if necessary and re-stitch till you like the result. Then continue with the rest of the construction.
When you are done you have a full first quality Kilt.

Thanks for that most EXCELLENT advice!

May God richly bless you!

**Carolina Kiltman** · 28th August 08, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

"Practice Tartan" is actually a misnomer. You can practice on any Tartan fabric. Until you actually cut away the pleats in the Fell any stitches you put in can be ripped out and re-done at your leisure.
My advice is to find the best fabric you can afford. Go ahead and stitch it up practicing on sewing the Fell until you get it perfect. Rip out if necessary and re-stitch till you like the result. Then continue with the rest of the construction.
When you are done you have a full first quality Kilt. . . .

The idea of DIY is to get a quality that you would have to pay someone else to produce, and to have the pride in having done it yourself.
So go ahead and get the best quality fabric you can afford.

Any Kiltmaker will order fabric for you. Just ask.

I second this advice and must add that it applies to other types of DIY also. Just remember, patience can substitute for experience in many of these endeavours. (remember too, that patience is one of the cardinal virtues

.)

**Barb T** · 4th September 08, 06:08 PM

I couldn't agree more - buy good fabric, and do careful, patient work, and you will have a fine garment to wear. Once you've done the pleats, you'll know whether the kilt will fit or not. At that point, you can take anything out and re-do, if you aren't happy with the look or the size. Everything after that can also be taken out and redone except for cutting out the pleats. But you won't cut them out until you're sure it will fit, so ...

AND - it is really actually harder to make a kilt from cheap, sleazy fabric. The heavier the tartan, the easier it is to actually make a kilt. Less stretching and scooching.

And here is, IMHO, the best place to get real kilting tartan at a decent price. I've ordered several lengths from this vendor on eBay, and it is beautiful stuff. For under $200 delivered, you can get enough 16 oz tartan for an 8 yard kilt.

http://stores.ebay.com/CLANTARTANPLAID

Be sure to click "See all items", and check fabric weights carefully. For a kilt, you want 13-16 oz tartan.

**ardchoille** · 4th September 08, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Barb T.

I couldn't agree more - buy good fabric, and do careful, patient work, and you will have a fine garment to wear. Once you've done the pleats, you'll know whether the kilt will fit or not. At that point, you can take anything out and re-do, if you aren't happy with the look or the size. Everything after that can also be taken out and redone except for cutting out the pleats. But you won't cut them out until you're sure it will fit, so ...

AND - it is really actually harder to make a kilt from cheap, sleazy fabric. The heavier the tartan, the easier it is to actually make a kilt. Less stretching and scooching.

And here is, IMHO, the best place to get real kilting tartan at a decent price. I've ordered several lengths from this vendor on eBay, and it is beautiful stuff. For under $200 delivered, you can get enough 16 oz tartan for an 8 yard kilt.

http://stores.ebay.com/CLANTARTANPLAID

Be sure to click "See all items", and check fabric weights carefully. For a kilt, you want 13-16 oz tartan.

Thank you so very much.. can't wait for the tartan and book to arrive