Grrrr! A frustrating choice

[Dixiecat]

I purchased an extra yard of fabric, intending to make a matching waistcoat for the kilt that I ordered. As it turns out, the fabric cannot be matched to the front apron of the kilt!

I'm not quite catching what you mean. You bought a yard of the EXACT same tartan as your kilt (i.e. it came off the SAME bolt) and it won't match up? Or, it's the same tartan, but off another bolt, from another weaver, different weight?

[Bugbear]

I'm not quite catching what you mean. You bought a yard of the EXACT same tartan as your kilt (i.e. it came off the SAME bolt) and it won't match up? Or, it's the same tartan, but off another bolt, from another weaver, different weight?

I don't know about the same bolt, but this tartan all comes from the same weaver and is all the same weight. In fact, it is 16 Oz Jura, Bear tartan from Martin Mills... At least as far as I know.

[Pleater]

I found that the fabric I bought a whole bolt of was brushed on the right side, and to use the wrong side for a kilt cut along the selvage would mean the twill ran in the wrong direction, so to get it right I needed to turn it ninety degrees.

So the wrong side rotated is the same as the right side should have been.

But with an asymetric tartan as well that might throw in an extra dimension that prevents a match.

The 'obvious' solution is to buy the same amount of a plain fabric in a toning colour and make a kilt that you can wear with the tartan waistcoat and a plain waistcoat you can wear with either kilt.

Simples!

Anne the Pleater

[lethearen]

I woulda suggested bias, too, but guess you nixed that already All said, I'd have to agree that too much tartan is, well, too much. I've seen paintings where they're wearing kilt, hose, and jacket all in tartan... wow, overload. Especially if it's a loud or busy tartan.

[Aldisimo]

You bought a yard of the EXACT same tartan as your kilt (i.e. it came off the SAME bolt) and it won't match up? Or, it's the same tartan, but off another bolt, from another weaver, different weight?

I wasn't there when the kilt or the extra yardage were cut, but either the two pieces aren't from the same run or the extra yard is the other half of a length that was split. It could be either situation: At one time they were weaving it double-width, but they stopped that soon after Mein got his fabric.

[Rex_Tremende]

It could be either situation: At one time they were weaving it double-width, but they stopped that soon after Mein got his fabric.

This is the first that I've heard that. I think that's a wise decision.

Regards,
Rex.

[Aldisimo]

Did you just ask Chris to include a yard of fabric in your order?

Well yes, and I paid for it, too!

[Bugbear]

Well yes, and I paid for it, too!

I get you, Aldisimo.

I think the tartan waistcoat, on it's own with a suit or even a solid color kilt, would be great. It is, after all, Bear tartan.

[Aldisimo]

The 'obvious' solution is to buy the same amount of a plain fabric in a toning colour and make a kilt that you can wear with the tartan waistcoat and a plain waistcoat you can wear with either kilt.

Yes, I've decided to go with this solution.

I was jonesing for the whole ensemble after seeing Riverkilt's XMTS waistcoat and kilt, but alas, it's likely that I sha'n't have one in the Bear tartan until I can buy eight or more yards of fabric and make both pieces myself.

[Dixiecat]

I still feel like I'm missing something because I don't understand why your extra piece doesn't match up with the front of the apron. If it's a full width yard of the tartan used for your kilt, cut from the same bolt, it should match. The only problem that you could run into that I can think of (other than it being a single width issue) is that your yard was cut at a different point in your tartan than the front of the apron uses so that you can't center it.

If you didn't get a full width yard from your supplier then you should contact them and ask if you could return what you have to get what you need. If you can't exchange, then you have the option of getting a full-width and using your other piece for a tie.