A tiny boast

That is wonderful! There's nothing like a little recognition to keep a person's interest up, and this fits the bill perfectly.

Lovely tartan. Is it modern? I don't remember ever seeing purple in a tartan. My own is reds and greens and not particularly appealing, except maybe around the holidays.

Yes, exactly!

I'm pretty sure the Highland dance competition rules are quite flexible as to "genuine" vs. "beautiful-to-dance-in" tartans. They do not require a clan-affiliation. The dancers (and their teachers) all prefer tartans with a lot of white in them because the "flash" while they dance in more spectacular. Blair also likes the Purple Dress Cunningham, which is similar in color, but more complicated in terms of working out the pleat pattern:

the narrow double stripe into the tapered hip-to-waist fall would be a bit more difficult. But I'll go with whichever one DGD prefers. In this case, she *is* the boss. Beverly

> Working the narrow double stripe into the tapered hip-to-waist > fall would be a bit more difficult. But I'll go with whichever > one DGD prefers. In this case, she *is* the boss.>

You will develop an expertise that you never envisioned! Then they'll be beating a path to your door. That is such a labor-intensive process, but good for you for doing it and not dashing it off as a parochial school skirt.

I'm curious about that link- it seemed to say that this cloth was priced at $67.04 per meter? Without tax? I clicked on "2" to see what would happen, and it came to $268.20 without tax, $315.12 with tax. Am I reading this correctly? $268 for 2 meters of 54" fabric?

Actually, US$67.05. ;-)

It's kind of an odd site, if you click on "view basket", it takes you to a screen where you can change the yardage amounts. For some reason, it had entered "4" yards (probably because that is a common requirement to make an adult kilt). But when I change to "2" yards and click recalculate, it brings up the correct amount: US$134.10 (over on the right hand side, without taxes). I only provided the link because it was an easy way to show the tartan DGD is longing for.

It's moot anyway, because we are going to get our fabric direct from Scotland, DGD's teacher is going to bring it back.

Beverly

Boy howdy!!! I have several books and I've downloaded everything I could find online, too. The book I like best is "The Art of Kiltmaking" by Barbara Tewkbury and Elsie Stuehmeyer:

spent many a long night studying the diagrams and instructions. I am fortunate in having a kiltmaker local to me (but who has discontinued making kilts), she has been wonderful in sharing hints and advice. She will be the person who takes a look at this first kilt, to be sure I haven't goofed up majorly in some way.

"They" can beat at my door all they want, my standard for making a kilt will be very hard to meet: submit a DNA sample, and if it matches mine, you're in! ;-)

I had no idea when I agreed to make DGD a kilt that the "real deal" was *all hand sewn*. But, honestly...I'm enjoying it a lot.

Beverly

> and I'll be making a purple velveteen vest and/or jacket to go > with it. We also bought white poly/cotton and eyelet lace > yesterday for a new blouse and petticoat.>

Whoo hoo! Congrats to the DGD! :) :) :)

Well, depends on which branch in my family...there is:

is lovely, or this: is NOT so lovely . Of course, we have to figure out which branch we descend from because:

?P_ID=551&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=tartan&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=163?P_ID=1155&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=tartan&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=163?P_ID=560&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=tartan&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=163 And there are several more "MacDonald" tartans....argh!!!!

Thank you, Kate, I'll pass that along. DGD "knows" about all my online sewing friends. ;-)

In addition to Highland Dance, and soccer, she auditioned for a school play, and now her mother (my DD) is roped into making a costume: a "mid 60s woman's business suit" in tangerine colored "suit cloth". ROTFL! My pattern stash is bursting with several of my suit patterns form that era, so they will be "authentic". I have offered to go over and work on the kilt while DD makes the costume, so that I'll be available for "consultations"....

Beverly

Yay!!! That is definitely good motivation for everyone. That plaid is beautiful. It will be gorgeous when you are done with it. :)

Sharon

Congrats to your granddaughter!! that is quite an accomplishment...

and that tartan is GORGEOUS! (my 13 year old is addicted to purple...she'd approve!)

betsey

ps- do you get to pick the color tartan? or, is it by school, or by family? (for example, my paternal family goes back to clan murray...)

The (faux) Royal Stewart tartan I'm making the "practice" kilt from is a beautiful thing also, and will be lovely for Christmas. ;-) I can hardly wait to get my hands on the Dress Purple MacRae!

Beverly

Thanks!

Well, DGD's favorite color is pink but purple is a close second.

The tartan for (USA) Highland dance competition is chosen by the dancer/parent in partnership with the dance teacher. It does

*not* have to be a family tartan, and most dancers select something "modern", with a lot of white, as it shows off the movement best. Since the Scot's pedigree of my DGD is such an amalgamation (coming through both my paternal line (Brown) and her father's family), I'm not sure which tartan she would select if she were required to stay with family linage. There are no doubt rules for that, but since it is not required for dance kilts, she gets to choose whatever tartan she likes best.

Beverly

aww - nifty! *sighs*

> and I'll be making a purple velveteen vest and/or jacket to go > with it. We also bought white poly/cotton and eyelet lace > yesterday for a new blouse and petticoat.>

Wow, Beverly! What amazing progress your DGD has made in such a short time...she must have the perfect combination of ability and desire. And a great cheering section!

The tartan is lovely. Can't wait to see pictures of the finished outfit.

Doreen in Alabama

She has actually been dancing for about 6 years. She fell during a competition 4 years ago, and gave it up for awhile, so she actually does have about 4 years experience all together. But she is very committed, and practices until her toes bleed.

She has also had to overcome severe stage fright, she used to get so nervous she would almost vomit. I asked her about that after Saturday's competition, and she said she still gets "a little nervous" prior to taking the stage, but once she is dancing she is fine.

That one will be started in September or so. I hope to get pictures of the one I'm working on right now up soon.

Beverly