Kilt with Sash

I'm not sure why, but I got on a kick, and wanted to make a kilt for Halloween. I searched the internet, and there were some instructions, but they were a bit hard to follow. I ended up using the instructions at web.archive.org/web/20070527200447/users.tinyonline.co.uk/chegc/kiltsite/page2.htm (The original site seems to be gone now).

This instructable should stand on it's own, but if you need some insight into the process, follow the link above to see what I followed.

Questions? Please! Ask!

Good Luck and have fun.

Other variations and instructions:
X-Kilt - www.stanford.edu/~ahebert/X_Kilt_adobe.pdf
Scottish Dance - www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html (Good Reference diagrams).

Step 1 Materials and Tools

Materials

• Cloth (Can be any color, and doesn't need to be tartan)
• Interfacing (optional)
• Buckles
• Leather strips that fit buckles

Tools

• Scissors for cutting cloth
• Scissors for cutting threads
• Measuring tape
• Chalk (standard chalkboard chalk is fine)
• Iron
• Sewing machine (optional but highly encouraged)
• Drill or leather hole punch
• Sewing pins
• Calculator (if you need to keep switching from inches to cm like me)

Comments

[SWV1787]

Not a bad kilt at all, though I prefer the Feile Mor or Great kilt that is actually an approximately 9 yard by 56" piece of wool tartan that you have to fold every time you want to wear it. they are not cheep though mine cost near to $400US and had to be ordered from scotland because I wanted my clan's tartan. I have become acomplished enough at wearing though and can get dressed in 20 min, 15 if I don't care if my pleats are strait... If you are interested in a great kilt, fitted kilt, or finding your family tartan look up Angus Harvey great guy and wonderful kilt maker. http://www.angusharveykiltmaker.com/

[nathangill]

Old post, I know - but I need to post a correction.
Historically, the Great Kilt was 7 - 9 yards of narrower fabric - as woven on the looms of the time. This 7-9 yard piece of fabric was then cut into two pieces, 3.5 - 4.5 yards in length, then the two were sewn together to about 56"

Kilts as long as 8 yards are relatively new - the last 150 years or so. And that should only be Feile Begs, or tailored kilts as shown here.

[mrmucox]

Yeah, I was reading info about them too. And yeah, 9 yds. is tough. All the fabric at the local JoAnn was limited to 8 yds, and it's only cotton, no wool tartan in stock. I live in Rhode Island, and we actually have a state tartan, but the only place selling it wants $85+ per yard... ouch!

[b1russell]

If you think Rhode Island is a tough place to buy wool tartan, pity us poor PHOENIX residents!  I went looking for wool to make a cloak - winter medieval event - and in eery single fabric store, chain or not, I got the same reaction: a blank stare followed by "But this is Phoenix!"  I ended up making my cloak from 4 - yes, 4 - military surplus blankets.  Lined it with cotton (hand-dyed it to match) and interlined it, since it wouldn't be seen and I'm always cold, with double-sided polar fleece!  Darn thing weighs a ton, but boy, oh boy, was I WARM!  Even in January, at the top of the mountain just outside Tucson.  Oh, the memories . . . And yes, the kilt-clad were among us!

[DarknessFreak1995]

OMG I want your boots soo much! And nice kilt.

[mrmucox]

Ah yes, I love them too, just don't have much of an opportunity to wear them. You can get them here.

[Turion]

There's no sporran so this is really just a skirt.

Sorry I just had to point that out.

[mrmucox]

While the sporran is traditionally used, I had no need of one, and, more importantly, didn't have time to make one. The sporran serves no other purpose than to be a storage device, and it's Gaelic meaning is "purse." Also, in modern kilts, the sporran is replaced with pockets in the apron.

[Turion]

 A traditional kilt is the actual fabric and the sporran. The fabric without the sporran is known as the Irish kilt which doesn't have the sporran and doesn't have a tartan pattern on it. 

Sorry if I've been annoying, things like this just niggle at me.

[Pazzerz]

A traditional kilt is just that: the kilt.  All else is just accessory.  My pants are still my pants, even without a belt.  I've been doing the Scottish thing for decades, and, well, you're wrong.

[Turion]

 Okay, what I said might not  be completely right but we all make mistakes. 
I am Scottish and I can tell you that if you were to turn up to a Ceilidh or something of the sorts you would be laughed at if you didn't have a sporran (unless your a woman of course). The socks, Sgian Dubh and such don't matter as much. I'm just saying what I've been taught, I didn't mean to cause so much controversy. 

[Pazzerz]

Of course!  At a party with the formal wear, you would look rather bare without the Sporran.  Women have purses, anyway. =)  On the field I prefer either nothing or a =believe it or not= fanny pack.  Controversy?  Nah.  The Scots are just raggin on you.  If you're gonna talk about us, be it good or bad, we're gonna make you learn it right so ye can spit at us or praise us properly.  hehe...

[icecoldcelt]

Basically, what you just said is "That's not a kilt, it's a skirt or maybe an Irish kilt."

[bujo0]

umm, no. a traditional kilt is just the gaelic name for a skirt, made of a clan's tartan. the sporran is just something else you wear. An Irish kilt is usually just a solid colour. The addition of a Sporran means nothing, if that was a point in it being a kilt he would have to go with the proper shoes, socks, carry his dagger, and have his proper shirt and jacket to go with it.

[Rimwulf]

Actually the Sporran has it purpose, they wear different types for different occasions. You Would commonly be laughed at for wearing the wrong one.
The dagger, socks, shoes, jacket, didn't need to be worn unless you in uniform most today just wear a T-shirt. Also during the middle ages  they usually wore only the kilt and boots, with the sash, sometimes a shirt or poncho made of animal skin.

[Pazzerz]

A friend of mine who lives around the Atlanta area makes kilts.  He is a former navy special forces/EOD type and a real character with story telling skills that can turn a trip to the grocery store into an epic adventure.  I can honestly say that your kilt had to be a labor of love as they aren't that easy to make.  I currently have a dress kilt (Clan: Stewart of Appin) for formal occasions and I'm in the process of buying a 'utilikilt' for when I have to work the field marshal position at the local highland games with another  friend of mine.  Looks like a good job and well done.

"Its a kilt- if it were a skirt, I would be wearing something under it!"

"Its called a kilt: Many a man has been kilt calling it a skirt"

-Authors Unknown

[Rimwulf]

that is right "labor of love"

[mrmucox]

Yes, it was a labor of love. I even made some small errors while making it, and while not looking too bad, I decide to fix them, ripping seams and more in the process. It took me about 4-6 hours of reading and re-reading the instructions I followed to to understand, and even while writing this, some more clarification was revealed. Thanks for the kind words!

[l8nite]

NICE JOB ! Ive wanted a kilt for awhile but they are either expensive or as you found, complicated and labor entensive, not to mention the fact that sewing machines intimadate me = )  If you look at the braveheart era though, kilts were mainly just bolts of cloth wrapped around the body, only in modern times are all kilts pleated and supposed to be "dressed up" with a sporan, dagger and socks. Hopefully you will use your creation for more than just a halloween costume...

[mrmucox]

Thanks! Yes, I saw that about traditional kilts too, and a bit of humor about the Scottish Army being late because they were pleating their kilts, all in jest.

[Rimwulf]

funny thing is they only pleated their kilts when they had time to do so. I war time they would wake up and scrunch it up and put the belt on then move the fabric they were all covered, but thats just one of the ways.

But remember real kilts are never sown.

[icecoldcelt]

Jesting aside, Scotts rarely fought battles in kilts. The fabric is expensive now, even with mass-production methods. They were mostly hand spun and woven before the industrial revolution. This made them practically life-long garments which were laid aside before battle. Good thing the typical kilt-shirt of the time came almost to the knees.

But that leads to jokes about fighting in your nighties, so there's no avoiding being ridiculed....

[masterochicken]

Good job. Nice boots too.

[mrmucox]

Thanks! I look for any excuse to wear them out.

[caitlinsdad]

[omnibot]

Looks like a mighty fine kilt.

[mrmucox]

Thanks! It's comments like yours that makes me want to contribute more!