Pleats pinned to half scale mannequin

Tartan design development samples

one third scale knife pleats

one third scale pleats on mannequin

My first kilt pleats

Lining detail

Pleat reveal

First raining Kilt

Handwoven fringe

Off-Kilter

Here I will be sharing process and progress of my 2024 kilt project, Off-Kilter, launched on January 1st 2024. January-March was all about research including a visit to the Tartan exhibition at V&A Dundee followed by some initial sampling and learning to hand-stitch knife pleats.

I started the making journey in May with Paul Duncan's Online course and 3 months/83+ hours later(excludingat least another 20 hours unpicking/restitching time!) I made my first training kilt in a commercial tartan, Clunie Burn from House of Edgar. Every stitch and technique was new to me but meticulously explained by Paula in detailed videos and an online forum. Its a great start but so much more to learn and my award from QEST will now allow me to study with Paula in person through autumn and winter.