"Long Kilt"

[JRMILLER]

I am a member of a local chorus and one of the gals in the chorus is a skirt aficionado. Last rehearsal, she wore a long plaid skirt that had pleats all around the rear and flat across the front. For all intents and purposes, it was pleated that same way a kilt is, however, it is a skirt and it was ankle length on her. She said it was a side zip, no lapping like a kilt.

Well, I am inspired. I have some very nice fabric from JoAnn Fabrics -- a red/green plaid (my idea of Christmas), which I am going to attempt to turn into a "long kilt", once that stands about 1-1/4" off the floor. If I end up with anything worth mentioning, I will post a pic, otherwise, this tread will die a slow, quiet death!

--it was nice to meet another skirt aficionado, she has wore skirts all through the season, even in cold weather. She is a real trooper!

[crfriend]

I have some very nice fabric from JoAnn Fabrics -- a red/green plaid (my idea of Christmas), which I am going to attempt to turn into a "long kilt", once that stands about 1-1/4" off the floor. If I end up with anything worth mentioning, I will post a pic, otherwise, this tread will die a slow, quiet death!

Good luck on that fab (fabrication), and as a big fan of long skirts I'd be interested in seeing the result!

--it was nice to meet another skirt aficionado, she has wore skirts all through the season, even in cold weather. She is a real trooper!

Indeed. What's her take on your sartorial sense?

[JRMILLER]

Carl,
Haven't spoken with her enough to get a feeling about what she thinks of my choices. However, there is a party coming this weekend and she will be there. I am trying to get the "kilt" done by then... The fabric is laid out on the kitchen table and I am deciding on how to line up the pleats -- stripe vs. sett.

[Big and Bashful]

Sounds like a cunning plan! It will be good to see the result.

[Milfmog]

I like the idea of a longer kilt and will be interested to see the results of your labour (or at least some pictures).

The only manufacturer I know of that produces long kilts is 21st Century Kilts. The pictures on their kilts pages do not look very inspiring, however the long kilts glimpsed in the video on this page look pretty good to me (unlike the female models who remind me of pipecleaners with all the fluff shaved off).

I will be interested to know how you get on with the sheer volume of material and managing it when sitting, standing and walking (I won't ask about running in a long kilt ). The look is one thing, the practical realities of wearing it may be a whole different kettle of fish.

Have fun,


Ian.

[JRMILLER]

I am looking at two fabrics. One is a poly -- synthetic with a smooth finish. It is a red/black plaid. It is very similar in weight and feeling to another plaid fabric I bought for JoAnn a year ago and made into a kilt. The fabric is very forgiving, the wrinkles work themselves out after hanging the kilt up over night.

The other fabric appears to be 100% cotton -- at least it has that feel and look to it. It had some nasty wrinkles in it off the bolt, so I am very concerned about using this fabric. It is a very nice green/red plaid, perfect for a Christmas kilt, just very concerned about the wrinkles. This one might be better as a table cloth!

Here are the plaids -- greenred.jpg is more Christmas-sy, but suspected cotton, redblack.jpg is poly and has a much nicer feel. Comments?

[Big and Bashful]

Both look good, but I thimk the one that stays wrinkled would be a bad idea. Unless the staying creased bit would help the pleats stay sharp?

[STEVIE]

This type of kilted skirt is referred to as an evening kilt. Worn on more formal or posh occasions it is often accompanied with a matching sash.
I hasten to add that it not all that fashionable in Scotland these days. On such occasions now you would be most likely to see the usual assortment of frocks with the guys in the formal kilted rig.

[JRMILLER]

"Evening Kilt", I like that term, I will make good use of it. Several Christmas parties this weekend, let you know how the term plays out as well as the kilt itself!

Decided on the red/black. Just don't trust the other fabric. Way too much work making one of these things, success depends on using the best possible materials... Start making the pleats tonight -- as in , now!

[crfriend]

Decided on the red/black. Just don't trust the other fabric. Way too much work making one of these things, success depends on using the best possible materials... Start making the pleats tonight -- as in , now!

... Remember, if you, or any of your team, are caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck, John!

I concur on the choice of fabric. Leave the knotty stuff for later.

I hope that imagery, in the appropriate place, will follow!

[PatJ]

http://www.the-hilt.com/long_hilt.html

the link above is an old one, hope it still works. It is a long kilt (hilt) that doesn't quite reach the top of the feet, but gives kind of an idea of what a long kilt would look like.

Unfortunately, it is solid color and not a tartan.

[JRMILLER]

Pat,
Thanks for the link, I like the look!

Worked on pleats last night, I have the pleat width set at 1-1/4". I am pleating to the stripe, there is a very nice white stripe about 1/8" wide which serves the purpose nicely. Making such long pleats is difficult, more so than the knee length variety. I am also going to start tacking them down with needle and thread to keep them in place prior to sewing them on the big machine -- I typically sew the pleats down to the fell line, then let them swing from there.

I am wondering if it would make sense to sew the inside of the pleats all the down to the hem. The idea would be to insure they stay in place. Anyone ever done anything like this?

[Milfmog]

I am wondering if it would make sense to sew the inside of the pleats all the down to the hem. The idea would be to insure they stay in place. Anyone ever done anything like this?

The pleating on a UK is stitched on both the inside and outside edges of each pleat right to the hem and it certainly makes pressing it far quicker and easier as well as helping the pleats to fall back into place after they've been squashed under my weight for a while.

Have fun,


Ian.

[JRMILLER]

Ian,
I will take a look, I have a couple UK's. Thanks for the tip!

[Mugs-n-such]

Pat,
Thanks for the link, I like the look!

Worked on pleats last night, I have the pleat width set at 1-1/4". I am pleating to the stripe, there is a very nice white stripe about 1/8" wide which serves the purpose nicely. Making such long pleats is difficult, more so than the knee length variety. I am also going to start tacking them down with needle and thread to keep them in place prior to sewing them on the big machine -- I typically sew the pleats down to the fell line, then let them swing from there.

I am wondering if it would make sense to sew the inside of the pleats all the down to the hem. The idea would be to insure they stay in place. Anyone ever done anything like this?

I did make a pleated skirt with large pleats once, I just doubled them over each other and sewed them down about an inch I think then sewed a belt line or yoke of the same fabric over them. I suppose that's not an authentic way to make a kilt, but I was more or less experimenting. What I've always wondered, in all seriousness, if ironing the pleats and keeping them "fresh" might not be more work than making them. Do dry cleaners charge more to press a pleated skirt than a plain one? I am honestly wondering about this...not trying to be funny, for a change. *sigh* wish there were more posts, and more people to pester (there I'm trying to be funny).