Making my first tank

[sydnie7]

I very much appreciate input from the Wizard himself! I will be sure to heed your words. I looked around at JoAnn's today, and I could not find anything that looked suitable. I am going to find to find a tartan that I would like to order for my first tank!

Check eBay, there are several sellers who offer real tartans as well as random postings of fashion tartans. Just be careful of weight, ask the seller if they don't post details -- I saw one listing labeled "great for kilts," asked about the weight and was told 8 oz LOL (Barb T says she won't make even a dancer's lightweight kilt from less than 10 oz).

This fellow always has nice stuff, one place to start looking.

[JamieKerr]

As it turns out, I remembered last night that I've a friend who works for JoAnn's. She's going to check into what she might be able to special order for me. And since she works there....can anybody say discount? Yeah!

[Alan H]

I would echo the Wizard as well, with one exception. I'd say to go whole hog on material for your SECOND tank.

Go budget on the first one. Like, see if you can find some pretty nice stuff on sale, and practice with that. You don't have to buy junk, just save the $70 a yard stuff for your second or third attempt. Go look at the remnants at Fraser and Kirkbright, or The Scottish Weaver, or see what's on sale at Scotweb's Kilt Store.

[RonnieMac13]

I just want to go on the record, and say that what money kilt makers are getting for sewing kilts it not nearly enough! I have been working on my tank since July 2009 I am about finished with it. But I don’t know how many times I have ripped out seams and started over, it seems like I have sewn two or three kilts by now. But, I will do it again very soon!

[St. Amish]

Having never made a kilt, I can only say that a tartan kilt, to my eye, is far more attractive than a plain, patternless kilt.

[JamieKerr]

Agreed 100%! That's why I'm going the poly viscose tartan route. A nice compromise between both options!

[JamieKerr]

Ooh! And I just checked my mail, Barb's book has arrived! If everything goes through ok, I just purchased pv Ancient Mackay tartan for my first attempt. Expect pictures to start appearing!

[longhuntr74]

I'm jealous...I want to try my hand at making one...but I'm stuck here in this war zone! I do have a copy of Barb's book as well...thanks to Barb herself!!! It is an awesome book...read it, re-read it, then open it up to the proper section and push forward!! By the way...whereabouts do you live in western NY (PM me if you'd like). I'm originally from the Rochester Area and my wife's family is from Buffalo.

[JamieKerr]

I live in Westfield, right smack dab between Erie PA and Buffalo NY.

[longhuntr74]

I live in Westfield, right smack dab between Erie PA and Buffalo NY.

You weren't lying when you said "Western" NY were you??? LOL