Hello from Scotland and first kilt

**markhammonds** · 13th December 14, 02:35 PM

Hello from Aberdeen in Scotland.

I found this site over a year ago when looking for information after hiring a kilt (for the first time) to wear at a wedding. I am grateful for the information that helped me get the outfit together and have considered buying a kilt ever since.

Not knowing when I would next wear a kilt, I couldn't justify spending too much money but I recently saw one that I liked in a charity shop and couldn't resist buying. It only just fits but, for £18, I thought it was worth the risk (and it will hopefully encourage me to eat less and exercise more...). I guess the kilt will need a clean, and the pleats appear to need pressing, but I am now keen to work out if I found a bargain.

The tartan (according to an internet search) is MacDonald. This is good as, despite not having a family link to MacDonald, my girlfriend does (and we also have a soft spot for Hector MacDonald in Monarch of the Glen...).

The material, as far as I can tell, is wool but I am not sure how I can determine this for certain... Total weight of the kilt is 39 oz (1.11 kg); top length is 52 inches; bottom length is 146 inches (4.06 yards); drop is 25 inches (a little long?); material area is 3650 square inches (2.80 square yards). As the length is 4 yards, does this mean I have a ladies' kilted skirt, rather than a gentlemen's kilt (there are 22 knife pleats of varying size but approximately 0.75 inches on the outside and 1.75 inches on the inside)?

If a fabric yard (36 inch by 60 inch) is 1.67 square yards, my kilt has 2.80 / 1.67 = 1.68 fabric yards. This means the material is 39 / 1.68 = 23 oz per yard, which surely can't be right (even using half of the kilt's length gives 39 / 2.03 = 19 oz)! Basically, my 4 yard kilt is about as heavy as a 12 oz 8 yard kilt. Does this sound right?

My thoughts: 1) the material really is 23 oz per yard; 2) the above calculation is incorrect; 3) rather than cutting the 4 yards of 12 oz fabric in half and joining it together to make an 8 yard kilt (which I think is typical), the material has been folded in half to make 4 yard kilt. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks, Mark.

**California Highlander** · 13th December 14, 02:55 PM

Welcome aboard as a "official" Xmarks member. And congrats on the bargain kilt. I'm not good on the mathematics of kilt weight tartan, so I'll leave that to others. But I will say "how about a pic of you in the kilt?"

**Richrail** · 13th December 14, 03:09 PM

from Reno, Nevada USA.

**Father Bill** · 13th December 14, 03:10 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**markhammonds** · 13th December 14, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the welcome. Once I have a picture of me in the kilt, I will post it. However, it will require a bit of work (cleaning and pressing) to get the kilt looking decent (and this may take me a wee while to sort out...).

**McClef** · 13th December 14, 03:28 PM

from South Wales!

**ASinclair** · 13th December 14, 04:33 PM

Hello Mark!

**GMan** · 13th December 14, 04:39 PM

A pleasure to meet you.

**Tarheel** · 13th December 14, 04:42 PM

Well met Mark. We are a patient sort except when waiting on an order for a new kilt or other doo-dad to go with one. Get your kilt to your proper taste and then post the photo. Welcome from Oxford, MS.