question for custom kiltmakers

[ForresterModern]

Thanks Barb. I have already been in contact with Cannuck about the tartan for another reason. From his report he has the only DFT kilt in North America (that must be your work), and his getting the tartan was not an especially easy task either, despite having actually met the designer at some point.

Since the tartan is sold in meters (one meter =1.1 yards) would 4 meters be enough for the kilt (4.4yards) or would I have to go up to 5 meters just for the extra couple inches to get the whole nine yards? Also, I guess my bigger concern is the double width fabric only being 140 cm wide (slightly over 55 inches wide double width and 27.5 inches in single width after splitting the piece) and my needs for an overall kilt length of 26 inches.

If I decide to do it I will just have my non-dutch-speaking dutch wife get one of her dutch-speaking family members to work me through the language barrier at their website and order the tartan directly myself.

Thanks again Barb.

fm

[SteveB]

FM,
I am NOT a professional kiltmaker. I do sew and have made three kilts for myself. 4 metres is not a wise investment. In an ideal world the fabric would be cut perfectly square, in the real world it is not. I realize that the tartan is quite dear (expensive). For 6 metres you get a well made kilt and a well made fly plaid. There also needs to be some wiggle room to make the tartan line up where the splice is sewn so that the pleats look right, especially if it is to the sett. This is my two cents worth, as I have sewn two tartan kilts for myself using Barb's book.

[Barb T]

Since the tartan is sold in meters (one meter =1.1 yards) would 4 meters be enough for the kilt (4.4yards) or would I have to go up to 5 meters just for the extra couple inches to get the whole nine yards? Also, I guess my bigger concern is the double width fabric only being 140 cm wide (slightly over 55 inches wide double width and 27.5 inches in single width after splitting the piece) and my needs for an overall kilt length of 26 inches.

You can actually make a kilt using however much tartan you have, so 4 meters would work. You might just have to have somewhat larger pleats. And, if you decided to pleat to the stripe (as I did Canuck's), you're probably just fine with 4 meters (you can get more pleats in a given length of fabric if the kilt is pleated to the stripe). If it saves you having to hassle with the web site, definitely go with 4 meters.

Yes, 140 cm should be wide enough. The only wrinkle may be that the kiltmaker may not be able to make the top band match the tartan in the apron. But, it will be hidden by your belt anyway.

And - BTW - a kilt 26" overall is a _really_ long kilt. Are you really tall?

[Galician]

He mentions in another post that he is 6'5" which in my book is pretty tall.