Jonesing for "The Art of Kilt Making"

[Joe I]

I was going to use straps like that, but I found the leather ones cheap on line. I like sound of those kilts, but around here I think I'd better stick with tartan.

[Joe I]

I have my well-worn copy of The Art of Kiltmaking and today I'm starting a 5-day kiltmaking workshop with Elsie Stuehmeyer herself!

It's something I've always wanted to do, ever since in the mid-1970s my grandmother made my first kilt for me, from a mostly-guesswork design that I came up with from looking at photos (neither of us had ever seen a kilt in person).

I hadn't either. And wish I could go, but Cal. is a long way from here.

[Off kilt-er dude]

I was going to use straps like that, but I found the leather ones cheap on line. I like sound of thos kilts, but around here I think I'd better stick with tartan.

I like the looks of tartan also, I found PV tartan at Wally world on discount for $1 a yard recently and have basically wiped out both stores in my area that had any. It won't be back so I am s.o.l. In the future or until I just go for the tartan from one of the weavers like Martin Mills. I enjoy the whole process of kiltmaking and even have both x-kilt and the revision adding the Rev-k which is the one I am working on right now. I have great respect for hand stitchers, myself haven't gone that route yet but I am improving my hand stitching before I try. Until then I'm machine stitching my monsters.

[Joe I]

They removed the fabric section at the local Wally World so I missed that fabric. I've been trying to find lessons on hand sewing, but all that's offered around here is machine sewing, which armed with the manual, doesn't seem that hard.

My wife thinks its funny that a bunch of guys are talking about fabric and sewing LOL

[Off kilt-er dude]

My wife thinks its funny that a bunch of guys are talking about fabric and sewing LOL

I attend the local community college and am taking Intro to costume design and they teach all the basic hand stitches, and let your wife giggle about it, a lot of quality clothing is created and sold by men, heck look at all of us kilties!

[OC Richard]

I hadn't either. And wish I could go, but Cal. is a long way from here.

I think Elsie does workshops all over the country, but I don't know the specifics. If you could get a group together willing to host her and pay for her you might be able to entice her down your way.

She's getting up in age so those of us who want to benefit from her experience need to do so somewhat quickly.

[dea3369]

LOL, I see you found me. I'll be watching!

First, it's about time you bought the book.
Second, Barb's always watching, in a good way of course. Not the "Big Brother" sort of way.

Good luck with kilt making. I haven't started on mine, yet. Summer is a bad time. Too many Boy and Girl Scout events.

[dea3369]

My wife thinks its funny that a bunch of guys are talking about fabric and sewing LOL

Real men sew, and a man-and-a-half who wears a kilt.

When Susan and I got married, it was I who owned a sewing machine. I was too cheap to pay $3 for each patch/rank I needed on my USAF uniforms! So, bought a $200 sewing machine instead. Over ten years, I believe I saved $75 sewing my own patches. Go figure.

[OC Richard]

I was too cheap to pay $3 for each patch/rank I needed on my USAF uniforms! So, bought a $200 sewing machine instead.

For some reason that seems completely logical to me!

I had to install a pair of metric things on a car, so I went out and bought a set of metric wrenches. My wife asks "couldn't you just buy the ONE wrench you need for that particular job?"

[David Thorpe]

My wife asks "couldn't you just buy the ONE wrench you need for that particular job?"

There are some things that the average female mind just cannot grasp.