Hair canvas

[ChattanCat]

Also, cotton shrinks, and shrinks, and... for its' hole life.

[Bugbear]

I was repairing the lining on one of my suit jackets yesterday that has floating, hair canvas shields up at the shoulder fronts. It's kind of rough feeling stuff; I guess that's why the kilt would need a inner lining...

Although, I can see how that would hold the shape of the trimmed off fell area and support the steeking line, or how ever you say it, especially if the canvas is pleated.

When I was planning to put a stabilizer in my StillWater kilt, I looked at all kinds of different materieals I had laying around, but it just seemed better to go with something as close to what Barb uses as I could find.

[The Wizard of BC]

Mipi,

I think you may be a bit confused with the words or terms you are using.

"Stabilizer" = a thin (think bedsheet) , narrow (2", 5cm) strip of any non-stretchy fabric that is sewn into the back of the Kilt from one buckle over to the other buckle to take the stress in the pleated area of the back of the Kilt.

"Hair Canvas" = A wide (8", 22cm), long (the distance from one strap all the way to the opposite strap) interfacing that takes the stress from the straps and transfers it evenly throughout the kilt to prevent unsightly puckers.

The Stabilizer is just a small strip of cloth while the Hair Canvas is a rather large and long piece of interfacing. They do a similar job of absorbing the stress of buckling on the Kilt but one is from buckle to buckle and the other is all the way from strap to strap.

The thing to remember is that you are going to wear not only the kilt but the interfacings. The interfacings need to be able to breath. Any interfacings that are made from synthetic materials or that is too thick could cause you to perspire heavily. You want interfacings that do not stretch but will still breath.

As others have said when you strap on the Kilt you are actually wearing the interfacings. The Tartan fabric with all your fine hand stitching floats over the interfacing without pulling on the stitches.

Even a Kilt made from P/V, Acrylic, or even Poly/Cotton needs some sort of interfacings to evenly distribute the stress of wearing the Kilt.

[a Grant]

In doing my research for Tailor's Pride hair canvas (also Hymo) I have noticed that it comes in a variety of weights. Which one would I need in a traditional kilt? Also, where could I purchase this in the UK or in Belgium?
Thanks in advance.

[Barb T]

First, Hymo and Acro are NOT heavy enough for kiltmaking.

Second, Tailor's Pride is made by HTCW products in Georgia (the US Georgia). Their web site is

http://www.htcwproducts.net

If you contact them, they'll be able to tell you if they have UK distributors.

The Tailor's Pride that I order is the one listed here (this site also has a picture, if you've never seen hair canvas before):

http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Tailors..._p_39-103.html

It's also available at Vogue Fabrics at:

http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/sto...vas-p-840.html

Tailor's Pride is not as heavy as the stuff I used to buy that was called "red edge canvas", because there was a red stripe down one edge. But it's the heaviest I've found lately.

[Bugbear]

First, Hymo and Acro are NOT heavy enough for kiltmaking.

Second, Tailor's Pride is made by HTCW products in Georgia (the US Georgia). Their web site is

http://www.htcwproducts.net

If you contact them, they'll be able to tell you if they have UK distributors.

The Tailor's Pride that I order is the one listed here (this site also has a picture, if you've never seen hair canvas before):

http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Tailors..._p_39-103.html

It's also available at Vogue Fabrics at:

http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/sto...vas-p-840.html

Tailor's Pride is not as heavy as the stuff I used to buy that was called "red edge canvas", because there was a red stripe down one edge. But it's the heaviest I've found lately.

Thank you for those links, Barb.