A sad day for DIY's...

[The Wizard of BC]

I will not use fabric from the discount stores for anything. Not even car wash rags. If you are buying something that is already at a discount because no one wanted it and then in the sale bin because it still won't sell it should tell you something about the quality of the fabric.
What you probably experienced is the bleeding of the dye. This is not uncommon in lower end fabrics. The dye used to put the color on your fabric is washing off.
This fabric may continue to bleed and it may have been a one time thing. time will tell.

Someone explain to me please---If a box pleated kilt takes 4 yards of fabric and you buy double width that is 2 yards you need correct????
The difference between $4.25/yard for bargain basement fabric and $9.50/yard for good quality fabric X 2 yards is $10.50, correct?
So if I skip one Latte today and tomorrow, pick up the nickel on the sidewalk, and dig through the pockets of my winter jacket I can have a really good kilt instead of heartache over all my hard work being wasted.
I don't understand.

[Perldog007]

I think Steve makes an excellent point.

Now that I am getting a bit more comfortable with sewing, some decent cloth is inbound. I don't regret my learning experiences, except the last semi X-kilt. Came out better than I thought I could do, and now I am saying to myself - "Self, you should have been smart enough to buy some decent fabric for this one!"

On the other hand, had I bought some nice hemp Canvas for that first kilt, I would have been very sad. Or the second. Or the third. But the last two (one for me and one for my neighbor) , well I could do without the ironing.

Lesson Learned.

[Pleater]

These days I only hand wash kilts - and use a gentle detergent or even soap.

All wool kilts seem to like my usual shampoo and a rinse in conditioner - discovered from washing them in the bath rather than the utility room. The bath means a lot more room/fewer creases.

Normal detergents do tend to fade colours over time, even the ones intended for coloured clothing. My first kilts are now definitely 'weathered MacDuvet' and McCurtain Ancient.

The kilts washed only by hand are showing far less fading than earlier ones, some of which are the same fabric.

[Brian F]

I have decided from now on that unless a kilt is being made specifically for "junk" purposes, my fabric will probably not come from Wally-World. With that being said, my mom is bringing me up 5 1/2 yards of Mossy Oak camo for my hunting kilt.

Also, in other good news -- I wore my kilt out to Taco Bell with the better half tonight. It needs washed and pressed, but it was dark and we were away from people. But, we stopped at a street lamp so she could see it...and she loved it!

And, and Alan, it's not as short as it looks in that picture - I had it up above my naval, when I wanted it to ride lower.

Just a quick update (mainly prompted by insomnia).

~Yeti

[djweso]

Sorry to hear about the strife with the coloring, but Good Job!

I think it looks great. (although the coloring maybe hard to see in the photos) And most importantly if she likes it you'll like her liking it ;)