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  1. #1
    Join Date
    16th July 08
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    Kilt making problems.

    So, I've bought and studied the book, got some really nice woollen material and I'm ready to go.

    First problem. The tartan is Dress Erskine which is black and white. The dress making chalk I have is white, result, I can't mark up the kilt.

    Drat!

    Fortunately, dress making chalk comes in different colours so now I have to go and buy a different colour. Moral, check your colours first!

    Okay, now, on page 56 of the Kiltmaker's Bible, er, sorry, that's "The Art of kiltmaking", it says, and I quote "From the waistline chalk mark, draw a smoothly-curving chalk line connecting the waist and hip marks at the right apron edge,continue the chalk line down to the bottom of the kilt in a subtly-flaring A-line shape."

    Second problem. I couldn't draw a subtly-flaring free-hand line on and with anything even if my life depended on it, let alone four times.

    However, one of the other things I do is boat-building and I don't know if you've every noticed this, but straight lines on a boat hull are few and far between. So people like me have to resort to other means for drawing curved lines.

    For this kilt I used a piece of heavy card longer than the length of the kilt, copied the measurements from the kilt to the card for the apron and using a flexible wooden batten and some fine nails I fixed the batten so that it curved through the required points on the card. then, with a very sharp knife, I cut the card along the line of the batten to give me the required curve. I can now draw all four of my apron curves on the material with confidence by using the cut card as a template.

    I wonder what other things I'm going to discover as I progress through making this kilt...
    Tetley
    The Traveller
    What a wonderful world it is that has girls in it. - Lazarus Long

  2. #2
    Join Date
    31st August 08
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    It sounds like you are going about it in the right way (I take the bull in china closet approach). I don't know how much that material cost, and I know it is a time consuming project done correctly. I would get an acrylic or something like that to do a test run. I am on my first tartan (poly blend) and 3 kilt and learn a lot each time I attempt it. I have heard acrylic acts like wool and you would still have a wearable kilt when you are done. Good luck.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tetley View Post

    Second problem. I couldn't draw a subtly-flaring free-hand line on and with anything even if my life depended on it, let alone four times.

    However, one of the other things I do is boat-building and I don't know if you've every noticed this, but straight lines on a boat hull are few and far between. So people like me have to resort to other means for drawing curved lines.

    For this kilt I used a piece of heavy card longer than the length of the kilt, copied the measurements from the kilt to the card for the apron and using a flexible wooden batten and some fine nails I fixed the batten so that it curved through the required points on the card. then, with a very sharp knife, I cut the card along the line of the batten to give me the required curve. I can now draw all four of my apron curves on the material with confidence by using the cut card as a template.

    I wonder what other things I'm going to discover as I progress through making this kilt...
    Great idea! I've been wondering about that step myself and will have to remember your cure for the problem when I start on mine. Just haven't found the material I want to use yet.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    25th September 04
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    Victoria, BC, Canada 1123.6536.5321
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    If you are a boat builder, as I am, then you are familiar with Splines and Spline Ducks. They are the perfect way to make fair curves.





    With Splines and Ducks you can also check that the two curves you draw on the aprons are symmetrical by checking side to side with a caliper.

    I have used my Kilt Splines (which are made from a 1 1/2" wide strip of Formica or Arborite) since I began kiltmaking.
    Steve Ashton
    www.freedomkilts.com
    Skype (webcam enabled) thewizardofbc
    I wear the kilt because:
    Swish + Swagger = Swoon.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC View Post
    If you are a boat builder, as I am, then you are familiar with Splines and Spline Ducks. They are the perfect way to make fair curves.
    Indeed I am, however, all but a few of my tools including my splines, are with my boat in Malta and not readily accessible. This is the next best thing.
    Tetley
    The Traveller
    What a wonderful world it is that has girls in it. - Lazarus Long

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Peterson View Post
    It sounds like you are going about it in the right way (I take the bull in china closet approach). I don't know how much that material cost, and I know it is a time consuming project done correctly. I would get an acrylic or something like that to do a test run. I am on my first tartan (poly blend) and 3 kilt and learn a lot each time I attempt it. I have heard acrylic acts like wool and you would still have a wearable kilt when you are done. Good luck.
    I have three lots of woollen fabric and I'm waiting for the XMTS run of PV to be sent out. I could wait for the PV, but I'm not a novice at sewing and as far as I can see the only difficult bit about making a kilt is drawing the curves, so I've gone ahead anyway.

    We'll see if my confidence is warranted or not in a few weeks time
    Tetley
    The Traveller
    What a wonderful world it is that has girls in it. - Lazarus Long

  7. #7
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    31st August 08
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    I'm sure it will come out great. I will definitely follow this thread to see the progress.

  8. #8
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    20th July 08
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    Tetley:
    I wonder what other things I'm going to discover as I progress through making this kilt...
    I hope that you'll share those discoveries here at XMtS in word and picture.
    Last edited by Aldisimo; 15th September 08 at 01:06 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    17th July 08
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    You are using the same technique I have used when I have to reproduce curves in some the cabinetry I do. Just remember a lesson I learned a long time ago, patience can do a lot to substitute for experience when first starting on a new venture. Good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures.
    The pipes are calling, resistance is futile. - MacTalla Mor

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carolina Kiltman View Post
    You are using the same technique I have used when I have to reproduce curves in some the cabinetry I do. Just remember a lesson I learned a long time ago, patience can do a lot to substitute for experience when first starting on a new venture. Good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures.
    I trained as an engineer and I also boat build and I know from bitter experience that you "measure twice, cut once". Now I measure and re-measure until I'm confident about what I'm measuring before taking the irrevocable cutting, or in this case the ripping step.
    Tetley
    The Traveller
    What a wonderful world it is that has girls in it. - Lazarus Long

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