A few new pics

I wanted to share some of the construction pictures of the hand-made kilt:

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It was an amazing process. I'll keep adding more as I find time.

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BEI Design
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Lovely , and i love the color mirjam

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mirjam

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Thanks Beverly,

I like the kilt, very very nice.

Everytime i see one of your kilts, you re-ignite my desire to make one.

The last time [last year] i researched making a kilt, finding some instructions books etc. and then looking for a tartan that i favored... well the price $$$$ of a nice tartan reminds me why i stall and hesitate on the kilt :O ouch !

I may try to make a muslin kilt from some heavy 12oz navy twill sitting in the stash but how i do like the look of those tartan colors and setts on the kilts.

robb

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robb

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Thank you!

And, what's holding you back??? ;-)

Yes, the cost of true tartan is not cheap. As I recall we paid $70/yard, but since it was 60" wide we only needed 3.5 yards for DGD's kilt. But really, the cost of the tartan fabric is not what makes a kilt expensive. I figure my time is worth at least $20/hour, so my labor pencils out at $1,000! I might get my time down some if I make many many kilts, but I honestly do not know how the professionals turn out $843 eight-yard kilts including the cost of the tartan, hair canvas, lining, buckles and straps, thread, and labor:

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could not possibly do it for money, only for love.

I have promised my DSIL a genuine kilt if he can ever settle on the tartan he wants. I would also like to play at making a UtiliKilt:

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nearly as much challenge as matching the tartans but maybe doable.

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BEI Design

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ok, i have ordered "The" book ;)

now to find some tartan ... i would go with something that just pleases my eye and/or suits my demeanor but i'll probably start with something that has some relevant significance by browsing through related registered tartans for ideas

maybe i'll get a little further along this time.

robb

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robb

Try this link which Juno so kindly posted:

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56"-60" wide 100% wool, which is wide enough to split lengthwise so you could get by with 4 yards for and "eight yard" kilt. At 8-10 ounces, a little light-weight, you would not get quite the swing of a 16 ounce tartan, but if the selvedges are good you could certainly use it for a "practice' kilt. ;-)

Do it! I found the entire process, from doing the math, to stitching, to pressing a great joy.

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BEI Design

"BEI Design"

Very nice new Kilt! Only love, indeed, can make you undergo such an amount of work and worrying. Professional kiltmakers have, perhaps, some kind of template or other gadget. Perhaps something like the buttonhole thingy that you can adjust to the size of the garment. And of course, if you do nothing but kilts, all day long, every day of the week, your hands probably find their way on their own. I remember that when I learned arithmetics in elementary school, I nearly ruined my brain by overstraining in the attempt to imagine every figure and so on until my mom showed me some tricks like shifting the . or when multiplying some numbers the row would follow certain rules. Hard to explain in English, but I think you got the meaning. Since Tartans are somewhat mathematical (or they look to me like they are), I bet there's a shortcut to every size/kilt/tartan combination.

U.

Reply to
Ursula Schrader

Thank you, Ursula.

Indeed! I tell DGD's teacher, who would rlaly like to enlist me for making kilts for her stedents: 'Sure, just send along any who share my DNA." ;->

I'm sure I could shave some time off the 50 hours it took me if I did many many kilts, but nevertheless I doubt any of the parents of the local kids who dance would be willing/able to pay me what I know my time is worth.

Yes, I think it is the same with many skills. That's why even professional musicians practice daily. Repetition, repetition, repetition....

Yes, there is a great deal of math involved. One takes the recipient's waist hip, and length measurements, then sits down with a chart and calculator to decide on the ratio of the apron hip-and-waist to the pleated back hip-and-waist. Then the size of each pleat face has to be adjusted to accommodate the finished measurements, and the amount each pleat has to taper from hip to waist, etc. I found it fascinating.

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BEI Design

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