How To Make A Kilt Skirt

This is the general question which keeps it in the mind of the new Scottish customers. Making a kilt skirt is fun, and it never bored you. It’s entertaining, and it is a skill that helps in the kilt field. If you become a good kilt tailor, then you can able to make your kilts for men. Every skill requires hard work and more and more practice. No one can become a perfect kilt tailor in a couple of weeks or months; it may take years of dedication. You must understand every step of making a traditional kilt skirt. Before discussing the detailed steps for making a Scottish skirt, you must understand the definition of a kilt. Without knowing kilt, you cannot understand its terminology. A brief description of the kilt is given below.

What Is A Kilt Skirt?

A kilt is an advanced form of a women’s skirt. It is a more pleated garment than a skirt. Therefore, we can say the kilt is the wrapped pleated skirt. The front side of the kilt skirt is plain, but if a skirt is utility type, there will be buttons and straps. However, the backside of the Scottish kilt skirt is pleated. Every inch of the crease is sewn with the matching thread. The Scottish kilt skirt is a hand-sewn product.

Is Making A kilt Skirt Need More Material?

The pants, shorts, and other bottom wear require less, but it is not the case with the Scottish skirt; it needs more fabric because of back pleats. The average piece of yard cloth require for making a Scottish kilt is 5 yards. If the kilt will be made in 40 inches or above, more material is required.

How To Make A Kilt Skirt

Now we will discuss how to make a kilt skirt and what things should keep in mind for making a true Scottish skirt.

Tartan Fabric

We use tartan for making the kilt because tartan kilts are slightly easier to make than cotton, denim, and other fabric Scottish kilts for men. The material is the main requirement for making a Scottish tartan kilt. The tartan consists of beautiful patterns, and there are too many tartans available in the market. As you know, every Scottish lover has a clan, so you can select your tartan for making the skirt. However, if you don’t have a clan, you can choose tartans among the universal tartans. Selecting authentic tartan is very important for you. It would be best if you cut the piece of tartan according to your size.

How To Measure The Size

For Accurate size measurement, you need the following three things

• Pen or Pencil
• Notebook
• Measuring Tape

Waist Size Measurement

If you are new and don’t know your size, you must measure your waist size with the standard measuring tape. The measuring tape should be wrapped around your waist. You should stand up and take help from your friend for waist measurement. In general, the Scottish kilt is 2-4 inches wider than that of the waist of the ordinary pant or shorts. So, it would be best if you did not rely on your pant or trouser waist. This is an important measurement step for you.

Hip Measurement

If your hip is wider than the average hip size, it is an important measurement. It would be best to use the measuring tape on the widest part of the seat or hip for an accurate hip measurement.

Length Measurement

It would be best if you stood erect and put the measuring tape on the waist and down to the top of the knee cap. The distance between waist and knee cap is the kilt length measurement. The traditional Scottish kilt is worn above the knee cap, but in this century, fashion lovers wear kilt according to their style. You can measure full length or shorter length whatever you want for a traditional Scottish skirt.

Calculate The Material

You have to calculate your material in this step. First, you must measure the width of the pattern or sett of the tartan fabric. Add one inch to the pattern, so this will be your pleat size. For example, if your tartan fabric has a width of the pattern is 8 inches, then 8+1=9 inches will be cloth required for each pleat. If the total number of pleats at the backside is 20, multiply it by 9 inches will be the whole cloth required for making the back side pleats.

Hem The Material

After calculating the fabric, you must hem the material straight. For this purpose, put the pins on the top and bottom of each pleat. It helps you in sewing the material.

Making The First Pleat

It would be best if you made the first pleat in the center of the tartan cloth after pleating sews it with the matching thread. If your Scottish tartan kilt has 20 pleats, then every pleat will be of equal size.

Ironing The pleats

After pleating, you must be ironing the pleat with the fully equipped Iron. The Iron should be not too hot; otherwise, it will burn the cloth.

Trim The Excess Fabric

After pleating, sometimes there is an extra fabric that kilt-makers do not require. You must cut the extra fabric with good quality scissors.

Adding A Waist Band

The next step is to trim the material for making a waistband. The waistband requires more cloth than a waist. For example, if your waist size is 35 inches, you must cut the 36 inch material.

Stitch The Waist Band

After cutting the waistband, stitching is the next step, and you not only stitch the edges of the waistband but also stitched straight. 

Adding Straps And Buckles

Now in the next step, you must add straps and buckles inside of the tartan kilt. In traditional clothing, leather straps are used, which must be stitched on both sides. You can use brass, silver, and gold buckles with your kilt. 

Check The Stitching

It is the final touch of your tartan kilt; you must analyze the stitching of every edge of the kilt. Check the front side, waist, and backside of the kilts for sale. If you need to hem some kilt area, you must do so before wearing the kilt.