Diagonal Pattern

[davedove]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of a kilt being made where the tartan pattern is displayed diagonally, instead of the normal horizontal and vertical. I know it's not the traditional method and I can imagine there would be problems based on the way the cloth is woven. And it would likely be much more expensive do to wasted cloth. But I also think that this style would be a nice change from the normal and would look rather nice as well. You could even pleat it to sett without any problems, although it seems to stripe would be impossible. Has this ever been attempted?

[Mike n NC]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of a kilt being made where the tartan pattern is displayed diagonally, instead of the normal horizontal and vertical. I know it's not the traditional method and I can imagine there would be problems based on the way the cloth is woven. And it would likely be much more expensive do to wasted cloth. But I also think that this style would be a nice change from the normal and would look rather nice as well. You could even pleat it to sett without any problems, although it seems to stripe would be impossible. Has this ever been attempted?

As a matter of fact, it is used fairly frequently in womens skirts and dresses. Alexis Malcolm shows several on her site.

Mike

[davedove]

As a matter of fact, it is used fairly frequently in womens skirts and dresses. Alexis Malcolm shows several on her site.

Mike

So she does. Which begs another question - is this only done on women's skirts?

[Planopiper]

Maybe because it would require a piecing together the material. You'd have to have an amazingly wide piece of cloth to get a piece 8 yards long cut on the diagonal. 60 inches is about the widest available, I think. So imagine how much effort would be required to piece together enough fabric, then still have all the work of making a kilt, but with the extra effort of hiding all the seams. You've also sacrificed the selvedge that should be the lower edge of the kilt, so how you'll have to have a hem, which never really looks right on a wool tartan kilt. And at $50/yard or more, you'll have a lot of expensive scraps left over. That's just what comes to mind. I imagine a seamstress or kiltmaker would have a better grasp of the hurdles involved.

Women's dresses aren't made with the same long, continuous piece of cloth as a kilt is.

[Riverkilt]

Mac pointed out, and displays, that men's tartan vests are often cut that way. And then worn with the same tartan kilt done in the traditional way.

Ron

[davedove]

Maybe because it would require a piecing together the material. You'd have to have an amazingly wide piece of cloth to get a piece 8 yards long cut on the diagonal. 60 inches is about the widest available, I think. So imagine how much effort would be required to piece together enough fabric, then still have all the work of making a kilt, but with the extra effort of hiding all the seams. You've also sacrificed the selvedge that should be the lower edge of the kilt, so how you'll have to have a hem, which never really looks right on a wool tartan kilt. And at $50/yard or more, you'll have a lot of expensive scraps left over. That's just what comes to mind. I imagine a seamstress or kiltmaker would have a better grasp of the hurdles involved.

Women's dresses aren't made with the same long, continuous piece of cloth as a kilt is.

I kind of figured that's why you don't see it done this way for men's kilts. It would just be too impractical, not to mention expensive. Probably the only people to attempt it were those with more money than sense!

[Freedomlover]

Expensive? Yes, but I really like the idea.