Welcome to the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre's website. Please scroll down the page to read all about the details of our Kilt Making course

We are a Social Enterprise, with Charitable Status run by
a voluntary board of Non Executive Directors. 
The company is run on a day to day basis by Linda Gorn MBE who is the Chairperson/Head of Centre/Managing Director/SQA Coordinator and Internal Verifier.

We are an SQA approved Centre, delivering a recognised work based SQA qualification in Traditional Bespoke, Made to Measure, Hand-Sewn Heirloom Kilts. 
We contract in, tutors who deliver the courses, where and when required. You will be taught by a qualified, experienced Kiltmaker who was, herself, taught at the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre. 

Linda Gillies is an excellent tutor, who will guide you through the intricacies of Traditional kiltmaking. She is also experienced in alterations, which is at times, challenging - to say the least!
 
We also deliver Textile Courses in Felt making, Teddy Bear making, Embroidery, Handbag making. Mixed Media and other creative items. 
These courses are delivered by our in-house tutor, who has many years experience in the Textile world.

The student can also sign up for the SQA approved Textile Course. Our courses are SQA approved Customised Awards and only delivered at the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre. 
PLEASE SEE FURTHER DETAILS IN THE WE PRIDE OURSELVES INFORMATION BELOW WHERE WE GO INTO DETAILS OF PRICES ETC

This is where the Magic begins, through our students creative minds at the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre. in the Laidlaw Room at 147 Mid Street, Keith

The History of the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre 
formerly the Keith Kilt School
 
The Keith Kilt School, (The original Kilt School of Scotland) was formed in 1994 and is now known as the Moray Textile Project, 
T/A the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre. 
We are located at 147 Mid Street, Keith, Banffshire  AB55 5BJ. 
The SQA courses and other courses are delivered in the Laidlaw Room, through the back of the gift shop.  

In the gift shop we now stock a wide range of Kids Clothes from premature baby up to a small range of 8 to 12year old clothes. We also stock Steiff items and make to order Banffshire Bears 
from the Heart of Scotland. 
Truly individual collectors Bears, with their own authentic certicate.                                                  

We are a small company based in Keith, in the heart of Banffshire (On the Speyside Whisky Trail)
teaching unique Traditional Kiltmaking and Textile related courses.

The Keith Kilt and Textile Centre delivers courses in Kiltmaking and Textile related subjects. We are an approved SQA Centre where the student can sign up for a course, leading to a SQA Customised Award in Kiltmaking and/or Textiles. 

 The student can begin with the Introductory course in Kiltmaking (it would normally take approximately 12 days to complete a kilt which could involve some homework)  and if they so wish, can move on to complete the SQA Customised Award in Kiltmaking, where they must complete a minimum of six kilts. 

The approved courses follow the SQA's policies and procedures, including portfolios of the student's work and three assessments to show that they have understood the process of Kiltmaking and or Textiles. 
(Registration forms, etc. will be provided as and when required)  

Please contact us for further details.
The student will be working alongside other students, who, will be working at various stages of the course.  

(There is no set time limit to complete the course)  

However, we do encourage the student to attend on a regular basis so as to retain the knowledge they have acquired in completing their kilts, 
or textile projects.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES 
ON TEACHING OUR STUDENTS TO A HIGH STANDARD.

ABOUT THE KILTMAKING COURSE

It starts with your ambition to make a kilt, then you find your client - choose their tartan and then the magic begins. Whether it's for a man, a woman or a child, the creativity that is required is quite compelling and you are then hooked!!  

If you sign up for our SQA Customised Award in Kiltmaking, it's only the beginning, as each client has an individual shape, so every kilt is unique and 
an heirloom in the making.  
The more kilts you make, the more experienced a kiltmaker you become.
Welcome to the magic of kiltmaking 
'Where creative minds meet' 
at the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre!

Kilt Course description - Learn hand stitching and machine sewing skills - measuring out the tartan for your kilt - (8 - 9 metres for a mans kilt)
 the use of quality tartan fabrics - the in-depth study of made to measure fitting - construction techniques for different styles of kilts and completion of a traditional handsewn heirloom kilt.  Also, sourcing of fabrics - kiltmaking supplies and accessories - including basic business advice. 

COURSE FEES are FROM £50.00 per day depending on the hours worked or WHETHER IT IS ONE TO ONE TEACHING.  We run courses on a regular basis, mainly on a Friday and a Saturday. However, we are - at the moment, flexible in running courses over 3 to 5 days - subject to student demand and student numbers.  
We have run 12-day courses in the past but those have been put on hold due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Materials for the course are extra.  This includes the material for the kilt, kilt buckles and straps, canvases, lining, threads etc.  
We do a 'starter pack' for your first kilt that includes the requirements for your first kilt - including the tartan sample for your practice piece (it does not include the material for your kilt)
 The pack is availabe to purchase from the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre. Please ask for details.

When the student signs up for the Kiltmaking course, on the first day, they learn the stitches that are required for the pleating.  (Other stitches are taught as the kilt progresses) Once the tutor is happy with the stitching, the student moves on to marking out their kilt and measuring it out to the required 'dimensions/measurements of their client.
 (This is supervised by the tutor at this stage)
 Learning to mark out your kilt is an essential part of your Kiltmaking journey. Each kilt is made to measure to fit your client - all kiltmakers follow this procedure.

Once the pleats are all sewn, the student moves on to the canvases. The buckles and the straps are also fitted at this stage on a temporary basis to enable the first fitting.  

The client comes in for a fitting, this is when alterations can be made. The lining for the kilt is discussed with the client, where it can be black or plain coloured, or it can be bespoke, requested by them to suit their taste. 
The client may wish it to represent, for example - golfing, tractors, deer, musical instruments, unicorns or any other personal subject - the choice is endless and inspirational. 
Once the kilt is completed, the client will come in for a final fitting if  required.

If there is enough tartan left over the student will also make flashes to match the kilt.  The client then has an "Heirloom Kilt" and if looked after, can be passed down through to the next generation.

HOW THE PROCESS OF THE TARTAN
BEGINS - IT'S MAGICAL

Where it all begins

Fleece from the sheep is the start of the process of weaving the wool, for the tartan.  There are many types of fleece from sheep reared in Scotland by crofters and sheep farmers. We use some of the fleece and tartan or tweed offcuts for needle felting, knitting etc.
 Wool and cashmere is also imported globally to Scotland, to weave the most beautiful textiles, that you could ever imagine. Cashmere is usually too light - weight to hold the pleats in Kilts, but, still makes the most beautiful garments in every colour and styles imaginable. Why not visit Johnstons of Elgin to see some of their beautiful creations. 
Well worth a visit........
  

The raw fleece

  The sheep have been sheared and the process of making the tartan, tweed or textiles can begin. This process includes the carding, spinning, dying and weaving and successfully 
woven in the Mills in Scotland. 
Our proud heritage relies on the farmers, who are committed to working long hours and also to the companies that are involved in the dying, spinning and weaving process. It takes years of experience to deliver the quality of material that we work with, from world wide recognised companies, 
mainly based in Scotland.
If you are lucky enough to visit a company that spins and dyes it's own yarn, it is amazing to see the process and the end product. 
The whole process is a fascinating experience to watch......

Now let the creativity begin

It is always 'MAGICAL' to see the dying spinning and weaving process that goes into making the tartan and the tweed. This process can still be seen as an age old tradition, woven on proper kilt edge looms. There are quite a few mills still working, in Scotland, and we are very proud to have Isle Mill Ltd. still providing employment in Keith, at Isle Mill Ltd. (House of Edgar) 
at Isla Bank Mills, Station Road, Keith. 
Johnstons of Elgin still weave Cashmere and other beautiful fabrics.
 'Knockando Woollen Mill' recently renovated, is up and running and  producing stunning fabrics again. Well worth a visit.
Smaller Mills also exist in Moray such as 'Woven in the Bone' where unique fabrics are woven for some of the top fashion designers 
'CREATIVITY AT ITS BEST......'

Contact us

Welcome to the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre's website. Please scroll down the page to read all about the details of our Kilt Making course

We are a small company based in Keith, in the heart of Banffshire (On the Speyside Whisky Trail) teaching unique Traditional Kiltmaking and Textile related courses.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON TEACHING OUR STUDENTS TO A HIGH STANDARD.

HOW THE PROCESS OF THE TARTAN BEGINS - IT'S MAGICAL

Where it all begins

The raw fleece

Now let the creativity begin

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