A left handed question

[The Wizard of BC]

Star, The subject of left-handed kiltmaking came up between Barb and I at Kilt Kamp. For no other reason than Barb said in her book that it can't be done I decided to figure out how to do it.
I remember when I was young and still deciding which hand I was going to end up using my mother wanted me to be able to use either without trouble so she had me try to learn something right handed, then also learn it left handed but learn to do it while sitting in front of a mirror.
This is the way I figured out how to hand-sew a kilt left-handed. Imagine Barb sitting opposite you sewing right-handed. Now mirror her.
It worked for me.

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Yes, but wouldn't that make a mirror image kilt? Hence the problem with the pleats going the "wrong" way?

Be well,

[The Wizard of BC]

Well, actually your right. I used the idea but kept the pleats going the right way. What I figured out was to reverse the leg cross over to hold the kilt. I then grasp the pleat with my right hand and hold it tight while I stitch with my left. So instead of the pleat being near me and facing away I hold the already sewn pleats to that they are away from me and the new on facing my chest.

I also found I could use the outstretched fingers of my right hand under the pleat I was sewing to flatten the area where the stitches are going and keep them aligned.

The other thing I found out was that I am much better with a sewing machine than I am with a needle and thread. Barb makes it look so easy. And she is incredibly fast too. At the last Kilt Kamp I watched her sew and entire pleat in about 5 min. I can't do one in under an hour. And my stitches don't look half as good as hers.