Finally about to kilt up!

[Séamus Ua Proinsias]

Hi, everyone!

It's been about a month, but I'm back, and about ready to go in for a kilt. (The trigger this time was a show of Billy Connolly's; I saw two men in kilts in the audience and was bowled over by the wonder of this garment.) And, it's just in time for my birthday, which is perhaps an even better excuse.

So the question I have this time is this: I've narrowed it down to either a certain Breacan of Kinloch Anderson or a Stillwater. Any thoughts, O Fine Kilted Rabble Among Whom I Hope to Soon Count Myself? I'm leaning towards the Breacan (one of their sale items in the beautiful hunting Ross ancient); however, I could be swayed. I do realize that the waist is a trouser waist, but it called out to me, and I listened, so to speak.

Thank you all, once more.

Jake

[Ryan Ross]

As a long-time Hunting Ross wearer, I vote for that option. Folks will love it, but more importantly, YOU will.

Best of luck in your decision, but either way you go, you'll love being kilted.

[MacMillans son]

Hi, everyone!

It's been about a month, but I'm back, and about ready to go in for a kilt. (The trigger this time was a show of Billy Connolly's; I saw two men in kilts in the audience and was bowled over by the wonder of this garment.) And, it's just in time for my birthday, which is perhaps an even better excuse.

So the question I have this time is this: I've narrowed it down to either a certain Breacan of Kinloch Anderson or a Stillwater. Any thoughts, O Fine Kilted Rabble Among Whom I Hope to Soon Count Myself? I'm leaning towards the Breacan (one of their sale items in the beautiful hunting Ross ancient); however, I could be swayed. I do realize that the waist is a trouser waist, but it called out to me, and I listened, so to speak.

Thank you all, once more.

Jake

I think they may be apples and eggplant Jake. I don't own a Stillwater, but I do own a Kinlock Anderson Breacan that I bought from a member here. It is a very nice lower yardage kilt, beautifully pleated, and of high quality medium weight worsted wool. If the price is comparable, I would endorse the Kinlock Anderson.

In looking at their sale page I see that the kilt offered is "Lightweight" and I assume that they are referring to the weight of the wool, typically 10/11 oz. It seems to be the consensus here that lightweight wool tends to wrinkle quite a bit easier than heavier weights wool, and holds the wrinkles longer, so you may want to enter that into your considerations.

By the time you pay shipping (approx $40 US) and some possible tariff you may want to consider a machine stitched, 16 oz. 8 yard kilt from Skye Highland Outfitters for $299 (about the best priced wool kilt out there). It's an option you may not be aware of.

What ever you decide, good luck with your new kilt purchase, it's likely only the beginning

[Séamus Ua Proinsias]

I'm very glad to hear of that; I didn't know it. But I looked all over the site, and didn't see if the kilts are pre-made, and shipped quickly, or made-to-measure and shipped after they're made, which would no doubt be faster than a hand-stitched Kinloch Anderson, or Kathy Lare, or suchlike. Do you, or does anyone, know?

The beginning? Oh, I do hope so. Here's to that!

Jake

[chrisupyonder]

Depends on your height if you can wear a ready made. Usually 24" but the one you were looking at is 22" but worn at trouser waist. Both would be 2" too long for me. I am 5' 6" without shoes on and I like my kilts to be just at the top of my knee.
Unless you are a standard size then a made-to-measure will always fit better.

Chris.

[MacMillans son]

I'm very glad to hear of that; I didn't know it. But I looked all over the site, and didn't see if the kilts are pre-made, and shipped quickly, or made-to-measure and shipped after they're made, which would no doubt be faster than a hand-stitched Kinloch Anderson, or Kathy Lare, or suchlike. Do you, or does anyone, know?

The beginning? Oh, I do hope so. Here's to that!

Jake

Sorry Jake, I"m not clear from your post which kilt you are referencing.

Just a general observation is that most wool kilts are made to measure. There are clearance kilts that may have been mismeasured and returned to the kilt maker, or that the kilt maker caught before they shipped it out, but generally speaking they are made to your measurements, at least to waist and hip. (just covering my bases there as there might be someone making casual wool kilts to a standard length only).

The Asian PV kilts are usually made to a certain length, 24", within a waist range you can specify, but not hip. I assume the low cost of material and high volume of sales to new or rugged use kiltwearers, coupled with the greater likelyhood of one kilt fitting more people, makes it feasible to have them premade and sitting on the shelf.

If you are referencing SkyeHighland Outfitters, their kilts are made to measure. Their current delivery times for each type of kilt are noted in the text box at the bottom of their home page.

Hope that helps!

[Andy Ternay]

The Asian PV kilts...

Just a quick question, I thought the Asian kilts were all acrylic? I understood that the pv kilts were not Asain made or is that simply too broad of a generalization?

[cdarwin]

Just a quick question, I thought the Asian kilts were all acrylic? I understood that the pv kilts were not Asain made or is that simply too broad of a generalization?

P/V stands for Poly (polyester) Viscous (AKA rayon). As far as I am aware, the most common use of the term on this site refers to the fabric coming from Marton Mills. However, it is not yet clear to me that this is universally true. It has been suggested that some folks who use the term are inaccurately describing acrylic fabric. There is a big difference.

EDIT:
I dug up a post from Rocky on the subject here

Cheers,
-J

[MacMillans son]

Here is a link to what I believe are kilts constructed with Asian made PV.

http://buyakilt.com/kilts/budget-kilts

They are not made with Marton Mills PV, as I have kilts in both and this is definitely heavier weight and courser . I assume there are a number of steps in the weaving process that would cause that to be the case, including the ratio of Poly to Viscose.

Not to derail about the merits of one fabric over the other, or their nation of origin, just that off the rack kilts like these are much more readily available than off the rack wool kilts in my experience.

Cheers!

[Mike_Oettle]

My current kilt (Mighty Men tartan) is made of polyviscose that was dyed and woven in Cape Town.
So there is at least one other supplier besides Marton Mills.
Regards,
Mike