Make an Ultralight Walking Kilt (78g / £3)

Background

After the success of the waterproof kilt I decided to experiment with 'ordinary' kilts for walking and everyday-wear. I have found them to be amazingly comfortable and totally practical for lightweight walking. I have gradually moved over to wearing kilts wherever possible and only using trousers when it is much colder. For summer walking a kilt is all that I need.

This pattern is very simple and so it would be possible to sew by hand if you were dedicated.

Fabric Choice

Mine was made with a lightweight 100% polyester camo fabric - it was on special at my local fabric store and I thought it might be useful for something...

A Poly-cotton twill is a good fabric choice as is a poly-cotton fabric. All the better if you can get one with a camo print...

I'm 6ft tall and have found that 60cm of fabric from the end of a 1.5m wide roll is fine. Since fabric is cheap if you buy 1m of fabric it will be enough

Measurements

1. Measure your waist at or near the top of your hip-bone. Be honest!!!

2. Measure the height from the top of your hip-bone to above your knee. This kilt is worn so that knees can be fully seen - it is more comfortable and allows more movement for the same amount of fabric.

Pattern and Cutting

1. Fold the fabric widthways so that the fabric is 75cm wide.

2. Mark a chalk line accross the full width of the fabric as close to the cut edge as possible.

3. Measure up from that line using your height measurement + 4cm and draw another line parallel to the first.

4. Mark a centre-line that joins the top and bottom lines to form a large I.

5. Measure out from each side this centre-line by 1/4 width of your waist measurement plus 1cm. The TOTAL width of the top line will be 1/2 your waist measurement plus 2cm

6. Join from this mark on the top line to the outside edge of the botton line to create the shape above.

7. Cut out carefully so that you have two pieces that look like the above image.

Construction

1. Place the two pieces together so that the pattern / right sides are touching. It should be clear which side of the fabric is the 'best' side.

2. Machine the side-seams using a straight stitch 1cm in from the edge.

3. Use an overlocking stitch on the side-seams to protect them from fraying

4. Fold and press a 2cm hem on the top and bottom of the kilt. You should be able to see the inner cut edges of the seam. Pin in place

5. Straight stitch near the edge of the folded hem on the top and bottom. Do this near to the edge of the fabric and near to the edge of the hem. If you have a rolled-hem foot then by all means use this instead.

The idea is to have two parallel stitching lines- like on a pair of jeans.

6. [optional] Sew belt loops. I haven't bothered and just wear a belt over the top. If you wish to cheat then you can use 10-15 nylon webbing as belt loops. Use 6 pieces that are 5cm long to create 6 loops suitable for a 1"/2.5cm belt. (If you are not sure how to machine them look at a pair of trousres)