The hand-sewn kilt is DONE!

Ohmygod all those pleats!!=20

Beverly, that is just amazing. I can't even begin to fathom making something like that....you are very, very talented. If that's what the 'pratice' kilt looks like I can't want to see the 'real' one.

-Irene

------------- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

- Mae West

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IMS
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Thanks, Sharon, and yes they all like to have me create one-of-a-kind outfits for them. DGD is quickly reaching the "but-Grandma-why-can't-it-be _____?" stage. She know just enough about sewing to be dangerous. ;-}

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks! It was really a completely new sewing skill for me.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks, she was a very happy child, indeed. But, really, I didn't find it tedious, it was just something I had never tackled before, and it took a *lot* of time, both the sewing and the "learning".

We won't have time for fabric shopping, but I expect the time in Williamsburg to be very special.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks! I will be happy to put pictures of all the steps on the web, but that will be after the trip.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

You're willing to spend 40+ hours making a kilt??? Who do you love *that* much? ;-)

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

You are very generous, although I am less than thrilled with a couple of those pleats. One of the problems was that we bought 4 yards of double-width wool (I have since learned that for a child's kilt only 3 to 3.5 yards are needed), and I tried to use it all, which resulted in tiny pleats. There are 27 pleats across the 18.5 back: at the hip, they are just 11/16", tapering at the waist to 7/16", and that means small errors show up large.

But this was the "toile", so I know what to do better next time. ;-)

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Oh, dear! Are you feeling better, now? ;-)

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks, Doreen! I was so fortunate in having the expert advice of a local Scots woman (she used to make kilts for the local dancers, now she quilts), and I found the instructions in "The Art of Kiltmaking" book invaluable. I suspect my great-to-the-7th--Scottish-grandfather must have had some influence. He came to America a loooong time ago.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks, Irene! Now, if DGD will just settle on the color, we can get the real tartan ordered. She waffles between blue or purple...or blue....or purple....Cunningham...or MacRae... ;-}

I have started making the vest to go with the practice kilt, DGD plans to wear it to the Portland Highland games in July, then change into her borrowed dance kilt for the competition.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

BEI Design a écrit :

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> This was such an amazing experience, and I'm looking forward > to making the genuine article in the fall.>

So lovely . Well Done, hours of love I am sure.

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

Swiss-German costumes have extensive pleating as well. Maybe not as razor sharp as your pleats. My family history is one of the things I love *that* much. AK in PA

Reply to
AK&DStrohl

Yeah, the smaller the garment, the bigger the error - even at 1/4" :( Ah well, this *was* thr practice run.

Yup! And having done this well this time out, and seen where the dangers lie, you'll get a fab result next time. :)

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

My DH's family was all of German descent. Please don't get me started on another hard-to-do ethnic sewing project! ;-}

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Exactly! DD cannot see what I'm concerned about. But *I* see it.

That's the plan. ;-)

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks, Claire. The task was definitely a labor of love, no way would I do this for $$$ (nor could anyone afford me).

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

-Liz

Reply to
Liz S. Reynolds

That is called "pleating to the sett" a term I was not familiar with until I started research for making the kilt for DGD.

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other method is "pleating to the stripe" which is what I used to think was the only way to make pleated skirts (but I had never made a real kilt).
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's what we did when I was in high school years ago.

Thanks!

Beverly

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BEI Design

-Liz

Reply to
Liz S. Reynolds

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