"My first kilt" was a heavy flannel thing that wrapped around like a towel and had pleats sewn down. My boyfriend bought it at The Pennsic War and wore it at night.
When we got home, he asked me to neaten up the top and add belt loops. I tried to make another and another one using directions from the internet somewhere. This led to my discovering the kilt making school in New York and now has become a small side business making and alterating kilts in Maine.