Click image to view slideshow
Click image to view slideshow
Barbara Tewksbury Kiltmaker
The slideshow above shows a small number of the kilts I've made over the years. You'll see examples of a variety of tartans, include regional and corporate tartans (Arctic, Antarctica, Isle of Skye, New Hampshire, HIghland Granite, Scottish Odyssey, and USA St. Andrews Society), military tartans (U.S. Air Force), family tartans (Weathered Stewart Old Sett, Ferguson), and personal tartans (Hamish Bicknell). People design new tartans all the time, register them, and have tartan woven for kilts. You'll see an example below - I made a kilt from a new tartan called the PSD (Private Security Detail) tartan and sent it to a fellow working for a private military contractor in Baghdad. I love the picture of the guys in full battle rattle and him in his kilt....
Interview with Barb about kiltmaking for Mohawk Valley Living TV spot.
Handmade kilts
A traditional kilt is hand stitched and can be made anywhere there's enough light for stitching. I've worked on kilts in Iceland, Egypt, and South Africa, between competitions at HIghland Games, and in airports and hotels all over the world. I've been asked many times, "Are you making curtains?"
Want to order a kilt?
I take orders for custom-made kilts. If you are interested, please contact me.
Learn how to make your own kilt
I've written a book, The Art of Kiltmaking, that is designed to teach people how to make kilts. If you want to make your own proper kilt, all you need is tartan, the book, and some patience and attention to detail. You can order the book from the Celtic Croft.
The Art of Kiltmaking teaches you how to make a traditional knife pleated kilt. If you are interested in making a traditional box pleated kilt (like the green kilt in slides 3 and 4 above left), you can download the box pleat supplement to The Art of Kiltmaking. You'll still need the original book, but the free pdf supplement provides the additional instructions for box pleating.
Kilt and kiltmaking links
D.C. Dalgliesh: Scotland's last artisan weavers of tartan - the only place left that will custom weave just one kilt length of any tartan. And their tartan is gorgeous - my absolute favorite to work with as a kiltmaker.
X Marks the Scot: a terrific online forum for those who like, wear, and make kilts.
Scottish Tartans Authority: lots of great info on tartans and a great Tartan Ferret to find tartans and their setts.
The Scottish Register of Tartans: the official repository of all registered tartan designs.
ScotWeb: the best place to browse tartans - you can browse by tartan name, color, fabric, and price.