Greets from SSgt Baloo!

[SSgt Baloo]

SSgt Baloo here. Some of the following I already posted at the Bravehearts forum, but I figure it'll be new to most of you guys.

I wore my first kilt in 1994 on Halloween. A friend from work was an SCA member, and provided me with instructions to make a Great Kilt. Tradition notwithstanding, I wore plaid boxers under the kilt. The idea of handing out candy to other people's children while "regimental" was just über creepy.

Twelve years later, I've rekindled an interest in Renaissance faires. During a recent heat wave I attended a faire dressed as a pyrate (as seen below) and found myself envious of the "Scotsmen" with their well-ventilated kilts. I overheard one of them say, while fanning his kilt, "Ah! It's good to be a Scotsman!" I had to agree, it was over 100° that day.

After doing a bit of research on the web, I began making attempted kilts. Belted plaids, actually. So far, I've put together one Great Kilt, a number of small kilts and one "Near-Great Kilt". That last item was the result of finding plaid I liked and not checking to see if it was wide enough (at 45", it wasn't). I subsequently converted that one to a small kilt also. All the kilts I describe above are untailored, belted plaid. Two are made from polyester/rayon material, two are made of cotton flannel, and one is made of coarse-woven cotton. The only "tailoring" I've done apart from hemming the raw edges of the material is to sew loops for a drawstring into the Great Kilt and sewing down the pleats in a couple of the phiellebegs (sp?). All of this material was obtained for about $2.00 a yard or less from Hancock's Fabrics or Wal-Mart. I haven't attended a faire enkilted yet, but at the next one I plan to be a Scottish pyrate.

My 1½" wide pants belt was just about cutting me in two with some of these kilts, as I am no pixie. I'd been looking online for a wide kilt belt that was also long enough, and most of what I was finding was, if not out of my price range, at least at the upper end of it. (It causes me real pain to spend more than $30 in one lump -- maybe I'm related to Jack Benny?) I learned at the other forum that I could buy a belt at the hardware store (less than $20) and use it as a Kilt Belt. I have done so already, finding a 3" wide workman's belt at Lowes. It was sized to fit a waist from 37" to 57" but the color was that pale pinkish-tan color of undyed cowhide. Fortunately, I know where to buy leather dye. The belt is now a rather nice-looking dark brown.

I'm still keeping my ear to the ground regarding kilt hose, ghillie shoes, a sporran and a brooch, and I'm looking into buying (or sewing -- did I mention I'm cheap?) a modern kilt.

--SSgt Baloo
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"A boy carrying a cat by the tail is learning something he can lear no other way." --Mark Twain