After a lovely ten days away with Will, first to Stirling, and then down to Cornwall for a holiday with his family. I have done precisely zero actual kilting. However, I consider the trip while on different types of transport a wild success in terms of research and development . In my travels, I picked up a Munro tartan book (since that’s Will’s surname and he's currently top of my "people to clothe" list), figuring a bit of background knowledge couldn’t hurt. Will also contributed to the cause in Stirling by picking up a knitted Highland cow measuring tape. If that doesn't inspire precise tailoring, nothing will.
Armed with fresh advice from the kilt forum regarding different styles and—crucially—how to tackle children’s kilts, my brain has been stuck in overdrive.
Up until now, my sewing resume consists entirely of victimized pillowcases and curtains. The forum sages suggested using duvet covers for kids' kilts so the poor wee things aren’t crushed under the weight of heavy wool, which naturally caused my mind to wander into the logistics of miniature tartan.
Naturally, as I started researching children's kilt measurements, one specific person popped into my head: Karolina. She’s my sister’s best friend from the Czech Republic. They met while studying in Scotland, and Karolina loved the place so much she basically never left in spirit. She also happens to have an adorable wee boy. Naturally, I immediately messaged her to demand she measure her son for a custom kilt. As one does.
The original plan was to stick to the sensible duvet-cover route for fabric. But because Karolina is so dear to me, I’ve already abandoned all common sense. I can't not make her son a lightweight, bespoke wool kilt. I’ve decided to look into my own clan tartan, Cameron of Erracht, officially declaring Karolina an honorary Cameron.
And because I physically cannot stop myself, while sitting on the bus from the airport back up to the Highlands, I ordered a clan fabric kit stuffed with different tartan types and weights to practice on. Once safely home, I immediately cornered Will and measured him up for a prototype kilt made out of a sheet.
