A master kilt tailor is teaching people around the world how to make the famous garments - all with a unique online course.<br /><br />Marion Foster, 66, first began kilt tailoring years ago for her uniform as a scout leader.<br /><br />Craft-loving Marion, who already made most of her own clothes, became frustrated at the lack of information available about the process.<br /><br />She was able to construct a kilt after studying the construction of one – but she couldn’t stop wondering how kilts were traditionally made.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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'.<br /><br />Marion, of from Perthshire, then retired early from her management position with the NHS, deciding to devote herself full-time to her craft.<br /><br />She then started the Askival of Strathearn Kilt College – a unique kilt tailoring mastery programme that can be carried out entirely online.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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?’<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“Often, they hold things back – I was told when I first started training to not give everything away.<br /><br />“I recognized that information was disappearing. I’m sure things are being lost because nothing was written down.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“I had learned so much through the challenges I had during my training, and I knew it could be done better.<br /><br />"I'm probably one of the only people left who has the technical knowledge of creating kilts.
