Utilikilt question

[Tobus]

If you don't want to read the whole post and just get to the question I have, see the bolded part below...

I don't tend to lean toward non-traditional looking kilts, but I have a project in mind that I was hoping to get your help on. I have a vision in my head of making a kilt outfit that's suitable for working outdoors.

When I say working outdoors, I mean doing dirty jobs that my homestead requires. Be it building a barn (which is mostly done, but still has some finish-out work left to do), mucking horse stalls, working the horses, digging trenches for water lines, shredding pastures with the tractor, and things like that. The kind of work where I would normally wear denim jeans or overalls, leather gloves, and steel-toed boots (which as you can imagine is torture when it's 100+ degrees outside). This type of work is definitely not the kind of work I'd want to do in a nice wool kilt or even a tartan PV kilt. I don't think PV could stand up to the abuse, plus any tartan material would show dirt and stuff instantly.

So I'm wanting a good, rugged, durable solid-color kilt that is heavy enough to handle the wear from hard work. Plus something that has lots of pockets, loops, and other accoutrements suitable for toting around a hammer, nails, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. And be washable and fairly stain-free.

Now before you say, "that's what the Utilikilt Workman is for", hang on a second. I have looked at it and it almost fits the bill perfectly. The only issue I have with it is that I prefer to wear a kilt up on my natural waist, not down at my jeans waist. Does anyone know if Utilikilts will make a fitted kilt that's worn like a traditional kilt but that has all the features of the Workman model? Or are they adamant that their product only be worn at the hips?

Also, as much as I like their products, they seem really expensive. Considering that Utilikilts are pretty much "cookie cutter" items (not bespoke), I don't know if I could justify spending over $200 on the Workman model. With the amount of abuse I give my work clothes, I'd be scared to death to put on a $200 garment for doing dirty work. How in the heck can it cost over $200?

I've considered making an X-kilt from the instructions posted online. Then I could customize it to my heart's desire. But I definitely do not like the look of box pleats, preferring knife pleats instead. And I'm not a kilt maker or even a novice at sewing, so I'd probably be biting off more than I could chew to try to adapt the X-kilt to knife pleats. Not to mention adapting it even further to wear at my waist instead of at the navel.

Anyway, what I'm looking to do is to make an outdoor kilt outfit that would be comfortable in warm or cold weather. I have a Wrangler "sherpa vest" like this:



I love this vest and it has held up very well to outdoor abuse. It's made of duck cloth and it's got faux-shearling lining on the inside so it's fairly warm. I want a kilt that matches it in khaki color and duck cloth. Then I want to build a set of leg covers to go with it. They wouldn't be kilt hose, they wouldn't be cadadh, and they wouldn't be like gaiters, so I'm not sure what to call them.

In my head, they wrap around my legs sort of like gaiters and lace up the back (or strap tight with leather tabs and buckles), but they don't cover my boots. They go inside my boots, only covering my socks from the ankle up. They go down to my ankle and stop, perhaps having a strap that goes under my foot. The tops go up to below the knee like kilt hose and are held up with the straps or lacing. But they are made from duck cloth and have the same type of faux-shearling lining inside. So essentially they're insulated like my vest, plus they offer some protection for my legs. I might even want to give them a corduroy lining at the top like the vest is trimmed with.

So my work outfit would be steel-toed boots, leg covers over regular socks (boot length socks), my work kilt, a long-sleeved work shirt, the Wrangler sherpa vest, work gloves, and whatever hat I choose to wear. If it's really cold outside, I suppose I would wear some undergarment with the kilt, distasteful as it may be. But I think this would be a pretty decently practical work outfit for hard work in cold weather, and I could shed the vest and leg covers for hot weather.

What do you think?

[Bugbear]

Have you looked at Flamingo Kilts?

[Hellequin]

A lot of the Utilikilts are made to order these days. If you measure your waist at where you want to wear it and then the length of where you wish it to hang, I don't see why it would be a problem. On the other hand, if the price is to much, there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room there. The Workmans will hold up to all the abuse you can give them and come out of the washer looking good. They will hold up better then a pair of denim jeans as they are the same material as Carharts. Yes, the price may be a little steep for some but find me a well made kilt with all the durability and functionality of the Workmans anywhere else on the market. You'll get your monies worth and then some.

[Old Hippie]

Couple things to think about:

As someone who does exactly what you envision, I find that the Blaklader kilt is very nice for this. One thing I like about it for this purpose is that it's constructed with the "pleats" sewn open. This means that while it's more like a canvas skirt, it also allows more air circulation and less chafing from pleats swinging against sweaty legs. Blaklader only has buttons at the waistband, and a nice wide apron that stays put even in moderate winds.

It has four huge pockets in front that are great for holding wrenches and irrigation system parts while you're working as well as hammer loop and small pockets for pencils and other necessities.

If you're going to be up on a ladder or roof around impressionable persons, it does not have the "modesty snaps" that UK puts in their Workman. If that's an issue to you a couple of minutes' work with a pair of snap pliers would remedy that lack. On the other hand, it's a farm. The ram doesn't seem bothered by having the boys swing in the breeze so maybe we're being too sissy.

They run about CAD$140 and can be ordered through any outlet that carries Blaklader's regular line. From experience, a 38 waist is about a 36, so order a size larger than you think you need. You get either black or high-vis yellow.

The other thing to consider is a bespoke kilt made with such options as you require. More expensive, but you get exactly what you want. I really like what Freedom Kilts can do in that line.

[Monkey@Arms]

IMHO A UK isn't really designed to sit at the natural waist like a fitted trad, and will tend to drop to your hips. If you want that kind of custom fit, I'd talk to one of the smaller modern kilt makers like Flamingo, Alpha, or Warrior.

Best regards,

Jake

[vorpallemur]

Also, as much as I like their products, they seem really expensive. Considering that Utilikilts are pretty much "cookie cutter" items (not bespoke), I don't know if I could justify spending over $200 on the Workman model. With the amount of abuse I give my work clothes, I'd be scared to death to put on a $200 garment for doing dirty work. How in the heck can it cost over $200?

They're made in the US, using US fabric. I'm not privvy to their finanacials, but I'm also sure there's a premium for the name, too. But their prices aren't that out of line for what the product is. Yes, they could be a made a whole heck of a lot cheaper in low-labor area.

I've considered making an X-kilt from the instructions posted online. Then I could customize it to my heart's desire. But I definitely do not like the look of box pleats, preferring knife pleats instead. And I'm not a kilt maker or even a novice at sewing, so I'd probably be biting off more than I could chew to try to adapt the X-kilt to knife pleats. Not to mention adapting it even further to wear at my waist instead of at the navel.

Anyway, what I'm looking to do is to make an outdoor kilt outfit that would be comfortable in warm or cold weather. I have a Wrangler "sherpa vest" like this:



I love this vest and it has held up very well to outdoor abuse. It's made of duck cloth and it's got faux-shearling lining on the inside so it's fairly warm. I want a kilt that matches it in khaki color and duck cloth. Then I want to build a set of leg covers to go with it. They wouldn't be kilt hose, they wouldn't be cadadh, and they wouldn't be like gaiters, so I'm not sure what to call them.

In my head, they wrap around my legs sort of like gaiters and lace up the back (or strap tight with leather tabs and buckles), but they don't cover my boots. They go inside my boots, only covering my socks from the ankle up. They go down to my ankle and stop, perhaps having a strap that goes under my foot. The tops go up to below the knee like kilt hose and are held up with the straps or lacing. But they are made from duck cloth and have the same type of faux-shearling lining inside. So essentially they're insulated like my vest, plus they offer some protection for my legs. I might even want to give them a corduroy lining at the top like the vest is trimmed with.

So my work outfit would be steel-toed boots, leg covers over regular socks (boot length socks), my work kilt, a long-sleeved work shirt, the Wrangler sherpa vest, work gloves, and whatever hat I choose to wear. If it's really cold outside, I suppose I would wear some undergarment with the kilt, distasteful as it may be. But I think this would be a pretty decently practical work outfit for hard work in cold weather, and I could shed the vest and leg covers for hot weather.

What do you think?

I've got a heavy (#12 duck, about 12.75 oz square yard) duck cloth kilt I made this summer. It's fine. It wrinkles like, well, a duck cloth kilt. Were I to make another one, I'd do a few things differently. I'd probably use a couple few pleats, and slightly bigger reveal. And the slash pocket openings need to be bigger. It's not terribly warm, but it's okay. Actually working in it would be fine, unless it was really cold. The tread in the DIY forum is at
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/q...192#post771192

If you don't want to do it yourself, talk to the makers mentioned by others.

[dfmacliam]

Another consideration is Freedom Kilts, who can make a kilt to measure in the heavy duck material..

[SteveB]

Another voice for Freedom Kilts, (Sponsor Above). Steve's contemporary kilts hold up to everything that is thrown at them and ask for more.

I wear my UK Basic and Workman at the "kilt waist". They are not designed for it, so tend to "swish" more like a gathered skirt than a kilt. The design and the layout of the snaps is designed for the garment to sit on the hips, like a pair of jeans. I usually need to keep my kilt belt cinched in fairly tight to keep the UK where I want to wear it. I also own a UK Survival, it has the pockets for all that I can carry, and I do wear this at the "jeans waist". It is the only way that this garment will work.

My Freedom kilt sits at my "kilt waist" and fits perfectly for my needs, although I do not have ALL the pocket options that Steve can engineer into the kilt, it serves me exceptionally well. The UK is pretty much "off the peg", but the Freedom Kilt is completely custom made.

Slainte

[Riverkilt]

Wondering what the reason is for a high waisted working kilt...seems the high waist would limit movement a lot. Low waisted allows for a lot more movement.

[Bugbear]

They have back support belts for heavy lifting etc that go around the waist and lower back area.