Picture: Elaine Skedd Imagining anyone hand sewing over 20,000 authentic wool kilts is not easy. On Edinburgh's Roya
Picture: Elaine Skedd Imagining anyone hand sewing over 20,000 authentic wool kilts is not easy. On Edinburgh's Royal Mile such a lady exists with her fingers intact and still busy sewing. Elaine Skedd has not only sewn over 20,000 kilts by hand she has a double celebration as Elaine is now in her 40th year as a kiltmaker. Elaine Skedd said: 'I started with my apprenticeship in 1977 and this wasn't the path I initially had in mind as I wanted to join the Marines after I left school. Since I started out as a kiltmaker in 1977 I simply haven't stopped. When my children were born I just kept sewing at home and actually still made kilts on school trips and to my daughter's frustration I was even sewing at Majorettes competitions. Sewing kilts was also something I did on holiday in the family camper van. On one occasion I was seen to be sewing a kilt as a court juror.' Elaine added: 'There was a long period when I couldn't sleep and was sewing three kilts a day. From a period between 1987-1999 I went through what I call my powerhouse phase of hand sewing kilts hitting a peek of over 670 kilts a year! I think I was probably addicted for a long time. Some would say I still am. Victor Spence for the Tartan Weaving Mill said: 'It is totally staggering that Elaine was making over 670 kilts a year, thats 14 kilts a week! Elaine is a national treasure in our eyes. Can you imagine all those people who still have their kilts lovingly and so skilfully made by Elaine? How many brides have exchanged vows with their husbands wearing a kilt creation of Elaine? How many men have cried or cheered wearing a kilt made by Elaine when Scotland have won or lost? How many pipers are wearing a hand sewn kilt creation by Elaine? We can't forget the numerous 'His & Hers' kilts that Elaine has also made over the years. Elaine is now well on her way to the next major milestone for any kiltmaker that being 25,000 kilts by hand.' 'Elaine is part of what is pr
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Photo credit: © IAN GEORGESON / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: design, handmade, kilt, scotland, scottish, seemstress, tartan, traditional, weaver
