Progress on the kilt

Well on the way then. :) Goody - pix soon?

I'm taking them, but it may have to await the finish, I'm under a deadline, next dance competition is March 14 and DGD also needs a new Hornpipe outfit. DD is planning on making the Hornpipe, but will probably need/want help.

Beverly

It sounds like you have been busy! What a thrill it must be for DGD to know DGM is that meticulous to be so precise. I'm not certain I could go that far for any of mine. Emily

There is no other choice. Instead of a couple of darts, tapering from nothing to maybe an inch each like a regular skirt or pants would have, all the shaping in a kilt is in the sides of the apron, and the taper between hip and waist in the pleats. Even a small error, say 1/16 of an inch multiplied over 23 pleats results in a gain or loss of almost 1.5 inches. In addition, I have to maintain the "sett" of the tartan in the pleats and it has to match the unpleated apron. I have a metal rule marked with the two measurements I need to maintain (hip and waist), and I made up a chart of 'X times # of pleats', and I check the actual result from apron to last pleat after every pleat is sewn to be sure I am maintaining the correct size. Right now I'm off about 1/8" in the hip measurement, so I'll have to make some tiny corrections across the next 6 pleats.

I'd love with the next one to have DGD here to learn how it's done.

Beverly

Is there a way you could make it in the summer, after school is finished?. Maybe she could schedule a couple hours once-twice weekly for an important sewing lesson. You both would get lots of joy from it. Just a thought. Emily

With any luck at all this one will last her at least a couple of years, so the next one will probably be made in her sophomore-junior year in high school. If she is still dancing, and if she is interested in learning how to make her own kilts, then I will certainly try to plan it around her school summer break.

It's a math skills challenge in addition to requiring a technically advanced level of hand stitching ability. And perseverance... ;-)

Beverly

A little inspiration for you:

I don't remember women wearing kilts. I gather the girls wear them for the dancing. Did women dance, or was it just the men, in the Olde Days?

"Bond...James Bond!"

I am no historian, nor do I play one on TV. I think in the Olde Days, "kilts" were exclusively for men, and I don't know if women danced or not.

men and women compete here (in the USA) in Highland Dancing, and the kilts they wear are identical with the exception that women do not wear "Sporran, Garter flashes, Plaid, Waistbelt, Sgian Dhub, Kilt Pin or other ornaments of any description." The dress code: is my bible when I'm making outfits for DGD.Beverly

> LOL!!! "Bond...James Bond!">

That's a lot of rules!!! Juno

Like almost any other competitive endeavor, the rules attempt to crate a level playing field. I'm just ever so glad DGD didn't take up Irish Jig dancing, the costumes are, umm, well, not kilts....

I'd go blind making those. Beverly

BEI Design typoed:

S/B "create" It's so difficult to 'crate' a playing field....

Beverly

>>>>>

Isn't it just? I did not read all that. I don't do homework. But I did label the post in case....well.....if it's a matter of reading the cereal box or a set of kilt rules......

You would have to fold it a lot.

You think a "lot" would fit? I suppose, if it's an urban lot...

Beverly

The fusta.us site provides the standards for USA Highland Dance, one deviates from those rules at ones (or ones'granddaughter's own risk).

The "rules" I follow for making a kilt are from this:

little arcane, but once I have read it several times I "get" most of it. The local kiltmaker gave me high scores on my first effort.

Beverly

Is a playing field just a lot of lots?

I've tried and tried, but I can't conceive of Beverly making anything that wouldn't get high scores. Even on a first effort. Not that she's A-R, of course....

Thanks, I just spewed pizza and Pepsi all over the monitor.

You would NOT want to listen to my attempts to play the piano... A-R or not, my fingers and brain just will not coordinate at a keyboard.

Beverly

Dunno, I'll have to plat that out...

B