Thanks for a great chat today Steve - Great visit to Freedom Kilts

[RodF]

Just wanted to post a quick note of Thanks to Steve for the great chat today and for making my GFs week/month for talking with her about Outlander. We have a blast. Apparently, I didn't realize that I use my name here for this forum versus Ritterton that I use else where.

We'll be back for sure...I have some thinking to do about the tartan I would most identify with. BUT, was incredible to see your work and get the lesson in the shop on how things are sewn and planned. What a true delight.

[Jock Scot]

Well done you! "Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom waisted", is a sound move in much of life and particularly so for those who are thinking of venturing into the world of kilts for the first time. Well done too, to Steve for spending your valuable time discussing the intricacies of the kilt/tartan world to a newcomer. Many more people should follow your examples to good advantage.

[Father Bill]

Well done you! "Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom waisted", is a sound move in much of life and particularly so for those who are thinking of venturing into the world of kilts for the first time. Well done too, to Steve for spending your valuable time discussing the intricacies of the kilt/tartan world to a newcomer. Many more people should follow your examples to good advantage.

Jock, I had the privilege of spending some hours in Steve's workshop, learning and watching how he engineers a kilt - and it truly is "engineered".

He calls his concept "contemporary," and I'll not argue with him since he is the kiltmaker, but the contemporary changes are that it has beautifully re-inforced pockets, an all-around stabilizer for longer life, and he's willing to make the garment sit at a variety of heights to keep the modern lads interested and willing. Having said that, when it's worn, it looks totally traditional to me.

I'm deeply impressed at the way Steve has integrated his engineering background in the measurement, precision, layout, and construction of the "beast" and if I didn't have the two kilts that I wanted, he'd be the man I'd turn to first for a new kilt.

So you are correct, Jock - Steve is utterly willing to explain and demonstrate in great, precise, and fascinating detail.

[cessna152towser]

I was privileged to visit Steve's workshop in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and hope to return again some day.
I can highly recommend a visit - and the coffee is always on!

[RodF]

My GF had taken this and it took me a bit of work to get it into my computer system. BUT really was cool to see the way Steve explains the fabrication of his kilts.

[The Wizard of BC]

Most of the guys who walk into my shop are exploring. They may have a family oral history, they may have worn a rental kilt to a wedding. Most have heard the myths.

But few have ever owned a custom made piece of clothing. Most are not ready to plop down a few hundred dollars. And fewer really know what a kilt is, other than it is supposed to be made out of some kind of plaid fabric. It is most likely, that the guy who walks thought my door, has never actually held a hand stitched, 4 pound kilt.

Oh sure, I could have a whole rack of pre-made kilts and I am probably a good enough salesman that I could get them to the cash register with a kilt, hose, garters, sporran, belt, and maybe even a $100.00 sterling silver kilt pin with their clan crest on it.
But if any of you have had a look at my website you may notice something odd. It is an e-commerce site with no "Click-Add to Cart" buttons.

Sure, I could sell a guy my idea of my perfect kilt. But I would rather sit with him for a while and have him describe his perfect kilt.

If he does not know or understand what goes into a kilt - Well, that is when I go into teaching mode. One of the girls who used to work for me dubbed it "The Kilt-a-cation". We start with Tartans. Where they come from and how to choose a Tartan. We go into the ways that fabric can be folded into pleats and the different ways that "Pleating to Sett" will look different from "Pleating to Stripe".

We talk about the Durability of a kilt. What makes a kilt last and what will cause it to wear out and fail. We talk about the Fit of a kilt. I demonstrate the Full Rise fit of a Traditional kilt and show them an actual RSS military kilt with 3" rise. We talk about the different Fabrics and how some are machine washable and some will have that famous swish. And finally we talk about the concept of a kilt with Pockets.

Does anyone recognize the DFF&P from "The Hand-Crafted Contemporary Kilt"?

So yes, I really love talking to customers. I get to hear their stories and why and how they come to walk through my door. Sometimes it is the wife or girlfriend who has talked him into it and sometimes the wife just sits there with the "Why did he not tell me about this interest BEFORE I married him" look.

And every once in a while I get to meet a guy like Rod who I have only known as a screen name here on X Marks. And that just makes my entire week a pleasure.

Thank you Rod for making the effort to stop in. And thank you for bringing your lovely girlfriend to visit. You are why I do this, why I make the kilts that I do. An X Marks member is automatically a member of the family. Welcome in my shop any time. There are cookies in the jar and coffee in the pot.