Hmmm, time to stop

**Alan H** · 2nd October 09, 01:34 PM

I'm not sure if it's just this kilt, or I've just "been there, done that", now.

I'm working (very slowly) on a Hall Tartan box pleat. Now, if anything could go wrong with this kilt, it has gone wrong. I finished stitching up the box pleat tapers, today. Unfortunately, I set them up such that there's a red stripe down the edge of each box pleat, all the way from the bottom of the fell to the bottom of the hem. Because of how the thing sets up, that red line tapers out and disappears in the tapering of each box pleat, from the bottom of the fell to the waist.

To do this RIGHT, would mean stitching each seam so that the red line disappears at exactly the same point, in each taper. Believe me, it's not working out that way.

It would take hours and hours to do this perfectly. I just don't want to. I don't have the patience, I want this thing DONE. However, two years ago I would have taken the time to hand-sew it perfectly. I won't do that now.

Is it just this kilt, or is it time to move on to other things? Hmmmm.....

I still owe Bethany her kilt, and Piper George his Dutch Mackay, and I suspect that I'm going to be doing my own Ancient MacNaughton 8 yard...*sigh*

**Old Hippie** · 2nd October 09, 04:19 PM

Best advice I was ever given about things like that:

"Do it until it becomes work, then take a break."

:ootd:

**KD Burke** · 2nd October 09, 04:29 PM

[QUOTE=Alan H;800421]

Is it just this kilt, or is it time to move on to other things? Hmmmm.....
QUOTE]

Hmmmmm....

To explain I should start by saying I truly enjoy my job. It is intellectually challenging, there's alwyas a new situation, and I work with good people (for the most part).

But, from time to time, it becomes tedious. On those occasions, I take a break. Maybe a few minutes, maybe a few days. When I come back to it, the challenge is still there, and my enthusiasm for meeting it is renewed.

So...take a break. Do something else for a few days, then come back to those pleats.

I have a feeling, it won't be so bad after you've slept on it a day or three.

**sydnie7** · 2nd October 09, 04:50 PM

LOL if you look back at Alan's threads, he has already "broken" from this kilt more than once. . .

But I know the feeling, and you have only a few choices: walk away from it, again, for some while; do a half-@ssed job that you know you will regret even before it's finished; or buckle down, power through it, do it right and be SO relieved when it is done, and done well!

I know, not what you wanted to hear, but it is offered with all empathy.

**Alan H** · 2nd October 09, 05:12 PM

I think I'm going to do a half-baked job, know that it's not perfect, and not wear it in situations where I need to wear a "nice" kilt. I'm sick of this bluidy thing.

**blackbeard** · 2nd October 09, 06:17 PM

If you always wear it with a coat. The fell will never show.

**KD Burke** · 2nd October 09, 07:46 PM

I've always tried to live by the motto "Have no regrets." I haven't succeeded by a long shot, but I do try.

So...will you regret doing a "half-baked job"? If so, save it for another day and do it right!

**Alan H** · 5th October 09, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by KD Burke

So...will you regret doing a "half-baked job"? If so, save it for another day and do it right!

Nope, I won't regret it. I'll just wear it at times when I don't have to be wearing a really nice kilt.

**pdcorlis** · 2nd October 09, 08:08 PM

I've been lucky enough to know Alan for a long time now. This man's internal compass always points to north. Alan, you know what to do - just do it brother and be at peace.

**Pleater** · 3rd October 09, 03:52 AM

When a project is just not going right I usually take it as indication that I started out wrong and there needs to be a rethink.

Often I take a scalpel and cut all the stitches, return the kilt to a flat piece of cloth, press it and restart the process from there to follow a different pathway.

However, I do consider the possibility that it is just going to be difficult and that there is no other way to proceed with it - before undoing all the work to date.

Is there some way to either make the red stripes vanish completely, making more, smaller panels, can the stripes be made to fall in another part of each panel?

Can you adjust a couple of pleats to get a good lineup?

Should a different method of pleating be attempted?

I always hold the opinion that there is a good kilt in most pieces of fabric, as long as they are large enough and of good enough quality to bother with - but I have to face the possibility that there will be one that beats the workings of my little gray cells, eventually.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: