MacJoe Home
Patterns for the Wee Kilt
This page is designed to help you make your own 1:6 kilt. Below are sketches that represent my own pattern and kilt-making techniques. A couple of notes. First, I use a heat-activated fabric glue in making my kilts, because I find that it holds the pleats much better than stitching. And at 1:6 scale, stitching often gives disproportionate bulk to small items, and it doesn't look true to scale. Second, the patterns below are ballpark guides. Use my numbers and you should have a perfectly adequate kilt for any figure. But I would suggest keeping your nude figure close at hand to make the kilt fit him perfectly. This is an art, not a science, so do experiment and always play it by ear.
And if you think you'll enjoy the having more than the making, click here to find out how to order a handmade wee kilt from me for $10.
Start with a rectangle of cloth. You'll pleat across the long side of it. Note that the side of the fabric you want to show when you put the kilt on your figure is down while you make the kilt, the inside is up.
Hem the bottom to give your kilt a length of about 3.75". If you have a figure at hand, hem the fabric so that the kilt runs from his belly button to the center of his kneecaps.
Hem the right edge of the fabric by about .5". Do not hem the left side at this time.
Mark out a flat space on the right about 2.5" wide. This will be the flat panel the kilt's front.
Starting at the far edge of the 2.5" flat panel, pleat the fabric. Each pleat should use about 1" of fabric, with the pleat running .5" deep. Pull the left edge of the fabric to the right as you pleat. The right edge of the fabric will stay in place while the left edge moves to the left with each pleat.
Pleat until the kilt is about 9" long along the top. Contrary to my picture above, this is likely to take 8 or 9 pleats.
Now hem the right edge to leave a kilt that is about 8.5" long across the top.
Now it's time to make a waistband. Real kilts generally use piping along the top instead of a waistband, but the bulk of the pleats at 1:6 scale makes this method preferable. Cut a rectangle of fabric about 1" longer than the top of the kilt and about 1.25" wide. Slip it under the kilt, alligned with the top of the kilt. About .25" from the top of the kilt, attach the waistband to the front of the kilt.
Fold the attached waistband flap up and attach it again to the top of the kilt.
Hem the sides of the waistband to fit the length of the kilt.
Now fold the loose edge of the waistband down onto the back of the kilt and hem it in place.
That's it! Turn the kilt over, admire your work, and put it on your figure. To see some pointers for dressing your 12" figure in his wee kilt, click here. Now, if you're 18 or older, get yourself a bottle of McEwan's Scotch Ale, some Scotch eggs and a bowl of Cock-A-Leekie soup and bask in some well-earned highland pride. If you're under 18, get a can of Irn Bru soda, take a sip, and thank gosh you were born in a country with Coca-Cola.