Kilt Pattern?

[bunchdescendant]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.
Each stitch line must be done with 100% Polyester thread too. Look at the side seam of a pair of blue jeans. See that puckering. that is what each line of stitching will look like very soon if you don't pre-shrink and iron each pleat every time you wash the kilt.
Can you tell I'm not a fan of Denim for kilts? Especially self-made ones. Everyone thinks that a kilt made from denim will feel like a well lived in pair of blue jeans when the exact opposite is true. Most denim kilts feel stiff and rigid. Cotton wrinkles, a lot, and must be ironed to retain the crisp edge to the pleats. You don't have legs inside tubes to force the fabric into a shape so must do it with an iron.
Only after repeated washings does denim start to soften enough to hang on it's own.

What he said!

but is a dozen times really enough? Maybe use a cement mixer with some sump rock for an all afternoon ride. Should be a little softer by then.

Link to Alan's instructions:

http://www.modelautoracing.com/kilt/X-Kilt_final2.pdf

I feel bad about not putting the link in originally-I'm hosting them for Alan! Oops!

Ray

[sjrapid]

And Please, please, wash your fabric first. At least a dozen times through a hot wash/ warm rinse cycle. With Blue Jeans Denim the warp and weft threads are different and shrink at different rates. If you do not pre-shrink your fabric you WILL end up with a pretty, blue, ballet tu-tu.

Steve is so right - yes indeedy! And to qupte Alan H elsewhere, 'shrink the dickens out of it...' before you start sewing.

Best regards

[Howard Clark]

I've had a similar experience with an all cotton twill. At the rate it shrinks per wash, I am not going to be wearing them long.

[Nerts]

Is Barb's book available for purchase from a store anywhere? I'd rather not get it off the internet if I don't have to.

Thanks!
E.

[The Wizard of BC]

You won't be buying over some unknown internet site, you will be buying from Barb direct. She is a super lady and have no fear ordering from her.
Plus, if there ever was a problem she is a member here and you can PM her with any questions.

[The Wizard of BC]

Or if you really want you can come to my store and I'll sell you a copy. Just let me know a little ahead and I'll make sure I have some in stock.

[Nerts]

I'll probably be making my way over to the Island sometime in May but it depends on funds. Will let you know.

Thanks,
E.

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

Shameless plug:

Buy the book!
Buy the book!
Buy the book!

I've been reading it (and incidentally dreaming about it, which is a good sign-means I've been internalizing it). It's very thorough and I know I will be able to construct a kilt as soon as I can find the time and get over my initial fear of potentially destroying some tartan material.

Be well,

[Mr. MacDougall]

I know I will be able to construct a kilt as soon as I can find the time and get over my initial fear of potentially destroying some tartan material.

Why not do a test run first, on les expensive material, and apply your lessons learned to the tartan?

[MacWage]

Why not do a test run first, on les expensive material, and apply your lessons learned to the tartan?

I agree.
I made 3 kilts (finished 2, all are tartan/plaid wools) in cheaper stuff before I started on worsted. AND, the first worsted I did was some clearance 13 oz F&K Caledonia I go from The Scottish Weaver, out of Charlotte, NC (I got 4 yards for $99, plus shipping). The first is well passable, the second (my first box) is good (pleats are WAY to small), the third looks great (but is crappy material, so it remains not quite finished). The forth, and so on look good enough to stay in my main rotation.

On EACH I learned SO much that the ones now are MUCH better and the investment was just time. The key, though, is to get material that best imitates the feel and characteristics (weigh, pull, hang, etc) of worsted wool.