X Kilt first attempt

**MarkReaves** · 26th July 08, 10:38 PM

You know with all these X kilts being made it kinda makes me wish that I had just a single sewing bone in my body.

Well, there are affordable sewing classes in almost every town and sewing machines are going for between $30-$200 (lowest priced I seen was on Overstock.com) and might even could get one from Goodwill if you know what you are looking for (seen one for $10, needed a pedal and a complete one for $30).

Then all you need is materials, time, patience and just go for it. Keep the price of materials low and your loss would be small if you fudge up.

**Jerick** · 26th July 08, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by MarkReaves

Well, there are affordable sewing classes in almost every town and sewing machines are going for between $30-$200 (lowest priced I seen was on Overstock.com) and might even could get one from Goodwill if you know what you are looking for (seen one for $10, needed a pedal and a complete one for $30).

Then all you need is materials, time, patience and just go for it. Keep the price of materials low and your loss would be small if you fudge up.

I never even thought about taking up a class. Thanks I will most certainly look it up and I am sure that I can borrow a friends sewing machine instead of buying my own right away.

**sydnie7** · 27th July 08, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Jerick

I never even thought about taking up a class. Thanks I will most certainly look it up and I am sure that I can borrow a friends sewing machine instead of buying my own right away.

My first sewing class was in 8th grade, so if you are "smarter than an 8th grader" it's no big deal.

If you do decide to buy a machine, look for one with a little window that allows you to see how much thread is left on bobbin. Until those came along, unexpectedly running out of bobbin thread was a common curse -- or is that "caused common cursing"?

Of course, that always seemed to happen in the middle of some fussy bit of sewing (or a long topstitch, of which there are plenty in X-Kilt).

**Kiltman** · 27th July 08, 07:41 PM

I can't get over how really good the xkilt looks. Congratulations to all.

**SteveB** · 27th July 08, 09:10 PM

Kilt does look excellent.
A trick I use on bobbins is to watch the thread spool as I load the bobbin for how many top to bottom passes I load on. Then as I sew I keep a mental eye on the number of top to bottom passes that have gone into stitching. When I am one or two less than I wound on the bobbin, it is time to check the bobbin.

**sydnie7** · 27th July 08, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by SteveB

Kilt does look excellent.
A trick I use on bobbins is to watch the thread spool as I load the bobbin for how many top to bottom passes I load on. Then as I sew I keep a mental eye on the number of top to bottom passes that have gone into stitching. When I am one or two less than I wound on the bobbin, it is time to check the bobbin.

Holy cow. My hat is off to anybody who can multi-task to that extent! Give me a little window and a transparent bobbin any day (having sewn too many years using the "run til it's empty" kind).

Sorry about the hijack. I'm partway through my own first X-Kilt this weekend, will post some pics when I finish up in next day or two. Like KiltedKiwi, I expect subsequent models will show improvement