kilt project

"Do you have a pocket in that kilt, or are you just glad to see me?"

Exactly what I was thinkin'....

-- Beverly

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bwahahahahah you guys are soooooooooo bad. Sharon

My explaination was terrible. What I meant to say was- place some pocketing under the kilt starting 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the waistband, take a 2 1/2 - 3 inch by 7 1/4 inch outer-cloth ("pipeing cloth") place that 1 inch below the waistband (right sides together) draw a 6 1/4 inch (longer if hands are bigger) line through the vertical center 1/2 inch down, and so on --- the same as making a typical back trousers pocket, except the entrance is side ways. And forget the twill tape. The pocket entrance could go where there is a pleat. Try three or four of them in some scrap cloth if you have never made any.

John

That's pretty much how they put a slash pocket in a pleated kilt. The new style casuals are another story. They actually hand cargo pockets on the sides, and even put a cut a hip pocket into the back. Take a look at the Mocker at

You really do not want to cut through all those pleated layers to insert a welted pocket! Might work in a light weight fabric, but not in a traditional tartan of a decent weight. It's fiddly enough doing it for the strap hole. I wouldn't like to spoil the line at the side with the added buly of whatever you made the pocket from and it;s content eirther.

There's a very good reason why pleated all round skirts and kilts don't have side pockets!

-- Kate XXXXXX Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons

| > What I meant to say was- place | > some pocketing under the kilt starting 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the | > waistband, take a 2 1/2 - 3 inch by 7 1/4 inch outer-cloth | > ("pipeing cloth") place that 1 inch below the waistband (right | > sides together) draw a 6 1/4 inch (longer if hands are bigger) | > line through the vertical center 1/2 inch down, and so on --- | > the same as making a typical back trousers pocket, except the | > entrance is side ways. And forget the twill tape. The pocket | > entrance could go where there is a pleat. Try three or four of | > them in some scrap cloth if you have never made any. | >

| > John | | You really do not want to cut through all those pleated layers to insert | a welted pocket! Might work in a light weight fabric, but not in a | traditional tartan of a decent weight. It's fiddly enough doing it for | the strap hole. I wouldn't like to spoil the line at the side with the | added buly of whatever you made the pocket from and it;s content | eirther. | | There's a very good reason why pleated all round skirts and kilts don't | have side pockets! | | | Kate XXXXXX

Your right - a pocket up near the waistband would not work correctly. What about half way down and cut into one pleat?

I'd still say no: just at that point is the widest bit of the hip hinge area: it's never going to lie flat (this is why side pocket opening end BEFORE the hip joint), and anything you put in it will spoil the line of the garment, prevent it lying flat, and prevent it swinging properly when you walk. It wouls also weaken the garment: trouser pockeyts are hung from the waistband of trousers, and the weight is not on the pocket opening. There is no waitband on a true kilt fron which to hang the pocket. If you want to make a Utilikilt type man's skirt with a waistband and far fewer pleats than a proper kilt, you might manage to put on in, but I wouldn't like to imagine the shapeless mess you'd end up with!

James Bond never keeps a gun in his trouser pockets for this reason: it would show! Jackets are fitted OVER shoulder holsters.

I think your best bet is probably a sporran, and/or a leather pouch on a belt. DH has a couple of leather pouches for his belts, to carry things like camera gear, pen knife, Cyber tool, etc. and my son's godfather uses a similar system with his 'posh frock' when not in dress mode.

-- Kate XXXXXX Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons

The Utilikilt Mocker does a nice job adding a slit pocket, but I expect if you put anything in it it would bulge unpleasantly. That said, pockets would without doubt wreck the lines and flow of a traditional kilt. I'm making mine more or less along traditional lines and just using the fannypack til I get the sporran made. Gotta get the leather from my son soon.