Help the Noob

[Bareknees1]

Hello to my kilted brethren(if I may be so presumptuous in my newborn state)



Working on ordering the first kilt. Had been interested in choosing a tartan with a "connection" to person/place/special event.The wife and I had taken a memorable bike trip(the pedalling kind) through mid Wales-primarily the Powys region.(A trip forever embedded in the memory as "Killer Wales") Whaddaya know, there's a "tartan" for the region, and the colors are quite appealing.
Contacted a well known and respected(to the rabble) kilt maker who indicated that they-Welsh tartans- are 1)somewhat hard to get 2)making them costly 3) not really a tartan since the warp and weft vary, thus losing the pattern when turned.
A crushing blow. I really like the fabric.
I see that there are kilt makers out there who do construct a kilt in the Welsh "tartans".
The questions for your valued opinions:

1) Anyone have experience with the Welsh fabrics?
2) Is the 13 oz too light?
3) Would the noob be creating a fatal kilt mistake by forking over his hard earned coinage to a maker who didn't share the Welsh concerns, or forge ahead and caveat emptor?
4) Is it time to stop overthinking?

I await and appreciate the anticipated lively discussion. Feel free to give the newbie a good smackdown. My goodness this is more fun than I would have ever expected! A great obsession is fermenting.
Thanks and cheers to all, Pat

[rondo]

BK1,
My opinion, yours to take or leave...

1) Anyone have experience with the Welsh fabrics?....Nope
2) Is the 13 oz too light?.... many kilts are made with 13 oz fabric
3) Would the noob be creating a fatal kilt mistake by forking over his hard earned coinage to a maker who didn't share the Welsh concerns, or forge ahead and caveat emptor?...there are not "fatal" mistakes, they are clothes
4) Is it time to stop overthinking?...yes, time to stop overthinking.

If you loved the region, and if you love the tartan that represents the region then go for it. Any number of experienced kilt makers can deal with the challenges posed by the fabric.
Keep calm and Kilt on.
Rondo
BTW, welcome to Xmarks.

[David Thorpe]

My brother made a kilt of 13-ounce Watkins of Wales. It turned out lovely. It IS lighter than a 16-ounce kilt, and the tartan definitely shows the difference between the warp and weft. The Welsh tartans are expensive compared to many "standard" tartans.
If that is what you really want, "forge ahead".

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm not sure I would call the Welsh Tartans 'Hard to come by". They are produced by The Wales Tartan Centre. A phone call or email and the fabric is on its way.

I guess 'costly' is in the eye of the beholder. The price is plainly listed on their website. Take a look and see if you think they are 'costly'.

While the Welsh Tartans are not the same warpwise to weftwise, the Wales Tartan Centre call them Tartans, so that is what I call them.

I will say, that the fabrics that I have received were woven by different weavers and were different. None had a selvedge suitable for kilts so needed to be hemmed.

[McClef]

I have two Welsh tartan kilts.

The one I am (naturally) wearing today is the St David's which is a full eight yard kilt at 13oz and it feels fine and comfortable with pleats at an average depth of 2".

The other is a Roberts which is only 4-5 yards, the pleats are not deep, and it feels lightweight though it is still comfortable and so far has not led to any embarrassing moments.

True they do not come with a selvedge and thus need a hem. Both were ordered through the Wales Tartan Centre and I was also offered the choice of an emblem to be embroidered at the lower right of the front apron. For the first it was either the Red Dragon or the St David's Cross but the latter had the option of both with the Dragon standing on top of the yellow of the Cross and it looks fetching.

There is a Powys Tartan, though most tartans, bar the St David's are based upon Welsh family names.

There is no actual Welsh word for Tartan - the word used is Brithwe meaning "weave" but for all intents and purposes in English, Tartan is perfectly fine.

The main weaver of Welsh tartans is the Cambrian Woolen Mill in Llanwrtyd Wells in Powys which is also the home of the man versus horse race and the delightful sport known as bog snorkeling. http://www.cambrian-mill.co.uk/#

[Bareknees1]

Many thanks, sir. Had watched the snorkeling competition prior to our trip. Unfortunately, did not have a chance to participate. Lovely country, lovely people

[sailortats]

I certainly hope you will go with the 13oz. Powyrs tartan. But be cautioned, pictures or it didn't happen. Will be looking for pictures within a reasonable time.

[Derek]

Hi Bareknees1 ... I have dealt with the Welsh Tartan Centre on numerous occasions. I have two welsh cilts like tref, a brithwe dewi sant (St Davids) and a Morgan ... like Steve says .. a phone call is all you need and its sorted. I did wear my St Davids too yesterday, although I had to go to Bath on music business otherwise I would normally join in the annual St David Parade in Cardiff.
Tref ... for the rest of the day now you have me thinking of Cilted Bog Snorkling .. lol
Iechyd Da
Derek

[McClef]

I don't think that's a good activity for a for a Cilt Derek!

[Dave5337]

BK1- I remember your post about getting an invitation to a formal dinner and you wound up being "the kilt wearer" - was that a rented kilt, or one that you own? I originally assumed that since this thread started with you saying you were going to be ordering your first kilt, that you might not own one, but then I thought maybe this is your first "bespoke" kilt. (Obviously I too am guilty of overthinking...)