Weight vs. length

**cable scot** · 2nd April 12, 09:14 PM

So for my next wool kilt I'm looking for something a little cooler,I have a USAK casual on order and will also go with a semi trad later and that'll cover the PV but for wool what is cooler and looks better a lighter weight,say a 13oz in 8yd or a 16oz in 4 to 6yd? I'm thinking of going with Kingussie pleat this time but a trad. box or knife pleat isn't out of the question.All of my current kilts are 16oz 8yd'rs and can get a little toasty at times.I would like to make an informed purchase and not have to pester my kilt maker with useless Emails.So what do you guys think?

Thanks
Andy

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 3rd April 12, 04:35 AM

Well, generally speaking, whenever people ask my advice about a cooler wearing kilt, I always advise them to go with a heavy weight kilt made with less yardage over a light weight kilt made with eight yards. There are a few reasons for this. First is that heavy weight wool is superior to the light weight wool in many ways. The chief difference I think the wearer will notice is that it tends to wrinkle much less and so will require less pressing and upkeep. It also tends to have a more masculine drape to it than the light weight.

Another reason is that there simply is no need for a kilt to be made from eight yards of cloth. Decent kilts can be made from anywhere from four to eight yards of material. And if the goal is a lighter kilt, consider this. An eight yard kilt made from 12 oz material is less than one pound lighter than an eight yard kilt made from 16 oz material. While a four yard 16 oz kilt is easily two pounds lighter than an eight yard 16 oz kilt. The best way to reduce the overall weight of the kilt is to reduce the amount of material used.

Now, if you are considering a Kingussie pleat style specifically, I would encourage you to go with a four or five yard option in heavy weight wool. Historically this style of pleating was made from an average of four yards of cloth. You could go with five for that extra bit of swing, but I don't think this style really works all that well with any more than that.

**Creeker** · 3rd April 12, 04:41 AM

Andy, thanks for asking this question, I was thinking the same thing. Matt, thanks for the explanation.

**davidlpope** · 3rd April 12, 05:21 AM

Heavyweight fabric in either a 5 or 6yd knifepleat. I prefer the 6yd (unless the sett size is very small) because of the additional pleats. Definitely my favorite type of kilt.