Helen’s Story: A Kiltmaker’s Journey of Craft and Family Heritage
Meet Helen McDermott, a kiltmaker whose passion for her craft has recently led her to a remarkable milestone: her 300th kilt.
Helen is not only a highly skilled kiltmaker at Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers but also a valued tutor at the Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy, where she graduated in 2018.
With a BAHons Degree from Heriot Watt University in Fashion Design for Industry, experience in the bridal industry, and work in the costume department of Game of Thrones, Helen brings a wealth of sewing expertise and creativity to every kiltmaking project she undertakes. Her dedication to the craft is matched only by her joy in passing on these skills to the next generation of kiltmakers.
We sat down with Helen to learn more about her journey, family connections, and what inspires her every day as a kiltmaker and tutor.
In three words, how does it feel to have reached your 300th kilt?
In three words?..."My fingers hurt". Sorry that was joke! Perhaps "Just keep sewing" or "Let's do 400"!
Did you have any sense, when you started learning kiltmaking, that you’d ever hit a milestone like this?
From the moment I began as a kiltmaker, I got hooked and knew I wouldn’t be able to give it up. I’ve just kept sewing - my family laughs that I’m addicted to making kilts, but I absolutely love it.
As a kiltmaker, it's a special feeling of making something that will be worn for a persons lifetime and handed down. It's meaningful to know that I'm keeping both my family history and a historical skill alive.
What first drew you to kiltmaking?
When I started working for Gordon, the option to train to be a kiltmaker was offered to me, and the thought of doing something that keeps a bit of Scottish history alive really appealed to me.
My mums Scottish and most of my family live here in Scotland. Although I'm Northern Irish, I've spent a lot of life in Scotland. I even have my great Grandfather's kilt, who wore it in the first world war, which is one of my most prized possessions. So the thought of learning to do this amazing skill really spoke to me, and something I'm proud to make with my own two hands.
If you could make a kilt for anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could make a kilt for anyone I would have loved to have made my Scottish grandfather a kilt. He has sadly passed away now so I can't make this one come true. He will always be the first man I remember proudly wearing a kilt and showing off how truly fantastic a man can look in a kilt. He will always be the image of a true Scott in my minds eye.
Is there a moment from your training at the academy that still sticks with you?
When I was learning with my fellow students, I felt that we learnt just as much from each other as we did from our tutor. Now, as a tutor myself and a qualified kiltmaker, I love being able to pass on what was passed on to me. Having done the course myself also gives me a great insight into how best to teach and help others learn too.
What part of the kiltmaking process brings you the most joy?
I love the peace it gives me to sew a kilt. It's like therapy to me! I can focus on a kilt, let my worries go for a while, and just work on making a beautiful garment for someone to love and enjoy.
What’s the most challenging part of making a kilt?
The pleating, for sure. Every kilt is different, depending on the customers sizes and the tartan sett size. It's like a new puzzle every time, and I get to figure it out. It's what makes being a kiltmaker fresh and challenging - which I love.
What do you love most about guiding new students?
I love working with students. Passing on my kilt knowledge, watching them learn, but also helping me learn and become a better kiltmaker in turn. It's amazing to have the opportunity to work with future kiltmakers.
Can you tell us a bit about your 300th kilt - the tartan, the style, anything that made it special?
My 300th kilt was MacLean of Duart Weathered, woven by Lochcarron of Scotland. To be truthful it was a pretty standard kilt, other then being my 300th kilt, it was kiltmaking as usual!
What is your all-time favourite tartan?
My favourite tartan changes all the time...but if I had to pick one, I would pick my family tartan Galloway Muted. It just by chance has a connection to both my Irish family and my Scottish family, so it really feels like my tartan and brings my family heritage together for me.
Helen’s kiltmaker journey is a beautiful reminder of how craft, family heritage, and passion can intertwine.
From sewing her first kilt at the Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy to guiding future generations of makers, Helen embodies the spirit of GNK in both practice and teaching.
Her journey is not just about milestones or finished kilts - it’s about the love, history, and joy she carries as a kiltmaker. For Helen, every kilt contains a piece of someone’s story, and in doing so, she is doing her bit in keeping a timeless Scottish craft alive for years to come.
We hope you found this story insightful and inspiring, and be sure to follow Helen's kiltmaker journey on her Instagram.