One of Scotland's last master kilt makers creates online course to learn the art

A master kilt tailor is teaching people around the world how to make the famous garments - all with a unique online course.

Marion Foster, 66, first began kilt tailoring years ago for her uniform as a scout leader.

Craft-loving Marion, who already made most of her own clothes, became frustrated at the lack of information available about the process.

She was able to construct a kilt after studying the construction of one – but she couldn’t stop wondering how kilts were traditionally made.

Research led her to a school set up by a former military kilt tailor, where she studied the craft, tailoring and history of kilts and highland wear.

She quickly began creating her own - and says she's now 'probably one of the only people left who has the technical knowledge of creating kilts'.

Marion, of from Perthshire, then retired early from her management position with the NHS, deciding to devote herself full-time to her craft.

She then started the Askival of Strathearn Kilt College – a unique kilt tailoring mastery programme that can be carried out entirely online.

She teaches students from around the world the craft of kilt tailoring, with videos and tutorials breaking down each step and twice-weekly tutorials over Zoom.

She said: “In my childhood and adulthood, I’ve always had an aptitude for sewing and making things – I used to make all my own clothes.

“When I became a Cub Scout leader in the early seventies, I needed a kilt, and I could not find any guidance on how to make one.

“I eventually managed to look at one and make one for myself, but I was always left thinking, ‘what is the proper way of doing this?’

“In my late forties, I heard of a school that one of the military’s master kilt tailors had set up, because he recognized all of the knowledge and skill that had been created over a couple of centuries.

“The military started stitching the kilt, making kilts for ceremonial use, as well as active service. They weren’t driven by profit; it was their craft.

“There is a craft behind the kilt that is dying out, because the people who have known the craft haven’t had the experience and the knowledge to create training programmes.

“Often, they hold things back – I was told when I first started training to not give everything away.

“I recognized that information was disappearing. I’m sure things are being lost because nothing was written down.

“As I went on, I had the opportunity to have an experienced tailor come and visit me, who really enlightened me about the tailoring, the stitching, and the way you create a garment to fit the shape of the person.

“In my middle fifties, I felt that I wanted to give this its due attention. I didn’t want to try and fit this in with my full-time work and do it in my weekends and evenings.

“I had learned so much through the challenges I had during my training, and I knew it could be done better.

"I'm probably one of the only people left who has the technical knowledge of creating kilts.