Newbie from Maryland

[kmcogar]

Hello all,

I just realized it was that time of year again, Renn fest! I thought I would step it up this year and wear a Kilt to get in the spirit of things. I am currently shopping for a good all around Kilt. At the moment, I am gravitating towards the Black Watch Utility Kilt from UTkilts. It seems to be a great price for a newbie ($65 with Shipping). I am also looking for good Sporran that doesn't break the bank. With further research about Kilts, I find I might be clashing clans a bit. I found out my last name is Welsh, but it doesn't seem to be easy to find the Welsh colored Kilts at a affordable price, so I am sticking with the Black watch (This just means I am cheap). I do want to represent my Welsh roots somehow though, so I am trying to find a good belt buckle with the Welsh Dragon and possibly a Sporran with one as well. I have found some items, but it doesn't appear to be easy to return. I'm not a big fan of making purchases with the possibility of wasting money.

Also, the Kilt on UTkilt.com says its made out of polyviscose. Is that good or bad?

Any recommendations on my first Kilt, Sporran, and company to use are welcome!

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble"!

[CollinMacD]

Welcome, I am sure you will get some good advice here. Polyviscose is a hybrid or a blend, not pure wool, so material is basically polyester. That is why they are able to sell at very low price. You have several links on the top of the page to vendors especially the Celtic Croft that has MANY of the items you desire. I would recommend the sporran to be a Rob Roy style if you are doing the Renaissance events. Also, for the headgear you would want a Jacobite style. Again look at Celtic Croft or the Scottish Trading post, and you will get exactly what you wish to purchase. Enjoy.

[Orvis]

Hello all,

I just realized it was that time of year again, Renn fest! I thought I would step it up this year and wear a Kilt to get in the spirit of things. I am currently shopping for a good all around Kilt. At the moment, I am gravitating towards the Black Watch Utility Kilt from UTkilts. It seems to be a great price for a newbie ($65 with Shipping). I am also looking for good Sporran that doesn't break the bank. With further research about Kilts, I find I might be clashing clans a bit. I found out my last name is Welsh, but it doesn't seem to be easy to find the Welsh colored Kilts at a affordable price, so I am sticking with the Black watch (This just means I am cheap). I do want to represent my Welsh roots somehow though, so I am trying to find a good belt buckle with the Welsh Dragon and possibly a Sporran with one as well. I have found some items, but it doesn't appear to be easy to return. I'm not a big fan of making purchases with the possibility of wasting money.

Also, the Kilt on UTkilt.com says its made out of polyviscose. Is that good or bad?

Any recommendations on my first Kilt, Sporran, and company to use are welcome!

I presume you plan to go to the Maryland Renaissance Fest at Crownsville MD (just outside of Annapolis). I've been to that one a few times and had a good time on the Celtic Weekend it puts on as part of its annual program of themed weekends. If you attend kilted, be approachable since you WILL recieve inquiries from friendly bystanders. Being a reenactor, I went in an 18th c. belted plaid (not correct for the Renaissance period in Scotland, but people at this event don't seem to care about authenticity - only about rolicking (just look around after you get there!)), no hose, Highland moccasins (cuarrans) and an 18th c. linen shirt. Be advised that this event does NOT allow paying customers to bring in or carry weapons of any kind - that is only for the staff people portraying Renn Fair characters - so leave your sword, dirk, sgian dhu, etc, at home. On Scottish Weekends, I noticed that there were hundreds of guys wearing belted plaids, philabegs and modern kilts (many badly), and nobody cared. So if you want to go in a modern PV kilt with a modern sporran, nobody will care.

Like you, I believe in getting into a hobby on the cheap end, so a PV "sports" kilt would probably enable you to have a good time without breaking your bank account. Unless it rains, a kilt, maybe some knee-high socks or hose (or hoseless with cuarrans, or even barefoot), a shirt and a bonnet should serve you well and enable you to have a good time and afford beer (it isn't cheap). If it rains, just add a plaid to wrap around your shoulders (or a poncho if you want). Did I mention that nobody will care? The object seems to be to have a good time and not worry about what others are wearing.

If you decide to stick with kilt-wearing, you can wisely spend your money on high-quality items as you get educated on Scottish dress over time. XMarks is a good place to get educated.

[kmcogar]

Welcome, I am sure you will get some good advice here. Polyviscose is a hybrid or a blend, not pure wool, so material is basically polyester. That is why they are able to sell at very low price. You have several links on the top of the page to vendors especially the Celtic Croft that has MANY of the items you desire. I would recommend the sporran to be a Rob Roy style if you are doing the Renaissance events. Also, for the headgear you would want a Jacobite style. Again look at Celtic Croft or the Scottish Trading post, and you will get exactly what you wish to purchase. Enjoy.

Collin,
Thanks a lot! Ill look into the rob roy style that fits my outfit.
Kyle

[kmcogar]

I presume you plan to go to the Maryland Renaissance Fest at Crownsville MD (just outside of Annapolis). I've been to that one a few times and had a good time on the Celtic Weekend it puts on as part of its annual program of themed weekends. If you attend kilted, be approachable since you WILL recieve inquiries from friendly bystanders. Being a reenactor, I went in an 18th c. belted plaid (not correct for the Renaissance period in Scotland, but people at this event don't seem to care about authenticity - only about rolicking (just look around after you get there!)), no hose, Highland moccasins (cuarrans) and an 18th c. linen shirt. Be advised that this event does NOT allow paying customers to bring in or carry weapons of any kind - that is only for the staff people portraying Renn Fair characters - so leave your sword, dirk, sgian dhu, etc, at home. On Scottish Weekends, I noticed that there were hundreds of guys wearing belted plaids, philabegs and modern kilts (many badly), and nobody cared. So if you want to go in a modern PV kilt with a modern sporran, nobody will care.

Like you, I believe in getting into a hobby on the cheap end, so a PV "sports" kilt would probably enable you to have a good time without breaking your bank account. Unless it rains, a kilt, maybe some knee-high socks or hose (or hoseless with cuarrans, or even barefoot), a shirt and a bonnet should serve you well and enable you to have a good time and afford beer (it isn't cheap). If it rains, just add a plaid to wrap around your shoulders (or a poncho if you want). Did I mention that nobody will care? The object seems to be to have a good time and not worry about what others are wearing.

If you decide to stick with kilt-wearing, you can wisely spend your money on high-quality items as you get educated on Scottish dress over time. XMarks is a good place to get educated.

Orvis,

That's the one! Ive been to the Renn fest quite a few times, but never took the plunge to throw on some garb. The cost can really add up when throwing together some gear. I dont think I have been specifically for the Celtic Weekend. I will have to plan on attending that one. Thanks for the heads up

[Tobinn]

My first kilt is the $90 (plus $10 shipping) in the black watch tartan from Celtic Croft. My last name is Welsh, too (Parry). My dad's side in English (my dad came to America in 1968). I've done the DNA test and, on my dad's side I've got English, Welsh, Irish and a bit of Scottish. I'm told by my aunt that my grandfather was quite proud of his "pure" northern Welsh blood. Then again, he didn't have a DNA test available so...

USAKilts has a Welsh kilt pin (which I have and I think it's very nice) and a Welsh kilt belt buckle (which I don't have - too much shiny chrome for my taste).

[Tomak]

Hello and welcome from Southern California. Never done a Ren Faire in a kilt, but my son has.

[Madadh]

Welcome from a fellow Marylander.

As for kilts two places I go for reasonable priced good kilts. The first is USAKilts, Rocky does a marvelous job and hist low end kilts are both well made and easy to wear. The second place I go for kilts is Stillwater kilts. Their kilts are great for knock around and even the wool kilts are not bad in price. I have several of their Black Watch wool kilts and highly recommend them.

As for a sporran, as mentioned by others the Rob Roy style works very well.

[VAM]

At this time of year, polyester and such variations will still be quite warm, too warm.
UTKilts and KiltedBros and a few others have cotton/polyester Ripstock kilts that are comfortable and not warm. KiltedBros claims to have one that is all cotton, and I have ordered one but not received it. If you are "daring", there are comfy kilts from Sportkilt that are surely super-comfortable in a very light cotton flannel. Advertised for around the house but some users write of going to the pub. Not a good idea to go "commando" in one, as the apron is simple too.