Need Advice for Making Great Kilts for Two Differently Sized People??

[LadyOfTheCottage]

8 yards is quite long! I was intending on making the kilts for the highland games this summer. We go every summer and I've made kilts for all my sons (so far we have 5). I was hoping to make great kilts for the adults. Perhaps one for my oldest son who is 12 and now taller than I am.

[jhockin]

I’ve not actually seen this pattern:

https://reconstructinghistory.com/pr...ish-great-kilt

[Pleater]

I’ve not actually seen this pattern:

https://reconstructinghistory.com/pr...ish-great-kilt

Wow - 5 to 7 yards for the kilt, at least 60 inches wide.

Having tried wearing a great kilt - though it was a fairly heavyweight fabric, I think I used under 5 yards of 54 inch width and it was too much indoors.

Anne the Pleater

[jhockin]

Wow - 5 to 7 yards for the kilt, at least 60 inches wide.

Having tried wearing a great kilt - though it was a fairly heavyweight fabric, I think I used under 5 yards of 54 inch width and it was too much indoors.

Anne the Pleater

I would imagine that the amount, weight and width would depend upon the size of the person, and the intended use. I would agree that a Belted Plaid/ Great kilt isn’t the best choice for use indoors, especially if there are breakables anywhere below head level

[Pleater]

8 yards is quite long! I was intending on making the kilts for the highland games this summer. We go every summer and I've made kilts for all my sons (so far we have 5). I was hoping to make great kilts for the adults. Perhaps one for my oldest son who is 12 and now taller than I am.

The 8 yards of darkness kilt is quite a beast - I believe that a great kilt would have been about half that, though you'd need to add more these days as people are stouter, in all senses of the word.

There is the option to sew in the pleats, or to add a cord to form the pleats without having to lay out the fabric every time.

Anne the Pleater

[Sir William]

8 yards is quite long! I was intending on making the kilts for the highland games this summer. We go every summer and I've made kilts for all my sons (so far we have 5). I was hoping to make great kilts for the adults. Perhaps one for my oldest son who is 12 and now taller than I am.

Having worn a great kilt (recreated 18th century Highland group) in summer at Games in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, I would suggest 3-5 yards, the actual width being determined by the waist measurement. A small person can get by with 3 yards, whereas your husband will need 4-5 yards. I'm 6' and 38" waist and prefer to wear 4 1/2 yards. I've worn 8 yards but it gets quickly becomes too heavy and hot.

I should note that given our summers, most of us leave the upper half hanging down rather than over the shoulder most of the time, as it gets really hot and uncomfortable otherwise.

[LadyOfTheCottage]

I appreciate it!
I heard that in the mountains, you never know what weather. Last year was hot and I heard the other year was chilly. Your recommendation I think is what I'm going to go with.

[Kitfoxdave]

I suspect that I may be chastised for this... After reading of many ways of pleating the belted plaid, and struggling to get it put on properly... with a bad leg and arthritis, I settled on 5 yards for a 45 inch waist, 5'11" tall... I pleated it reverse Kingussie style and my wife very kindly sewed in the pleats... this made it much more managable to put on for me. (Drape it over the chair back and seat, sit down, buckle internal belt, lap over the sides, apply leather external belt, stand up and adjust...) The reverse Kingussie style puts the pleat edges facing aft on both sides when walking along. This seems to work well at not catching on everything within 3 feet as you walk by... such as chairs, door hardware, fine china, fancy glassware...
Just my 2 cents.... your experience may vary...

Whatever you decide, enjoy your experience, and don't be afraid to adjust and change things to make the experience better, and more fun! As we age, it becomes important to adapt...