kilt hem finish?

**Javahaggis** · 11th April 06, 06:37 AM

Hi,
I just bought my 1st kilt. Went for the best quality (I thought) - the 16 oz pure wool in my family tartan.
It arrived today and I have a problem - I just don't think it is good enough quality. I doubt that it is the 16 oz for a start, (something I Shall query) and when you hold the hem up to the light there are little holes (like machine stitch holes) all around. Is this common? I have hired many kilts in my day, and I've certainly never noticed this?
I am about to email the company to complain and ask for my money back but I just wondered if this was a problem anyone else has had?
Cheers,
Javahaggis

**cessna152towser** · 11th April 06, 06:40 AM

I may stand to be corrected on this but it appears to me unusual to have a hem on a 16oz kilt. Both of my heavyweights are selvedged and I only have hems on my lightweight kilts.

**Javahaggis** · 11th April 06, 06:44 AM

Sorry no - I just meant bottom edge really - there is no hem.
It's scottish made, but I assume this is a machine that has left these holes.
javahaggis

**Paul Henry** · 11th April 06, 06:51 AM

it could also be the tenter hook marks, usually they disappear , but if it is a brand new kilt, there might still be evidence of them,if anything that would be the sign of a good weave!

**Javahaggis** · 11th April 06, 07:15 AM

Thanks Paul - didn't know that these holes could disappear. My wife is totally not convinced though - she says the cutting isn't straight at the bottom, the stitching isn't finished off well, and for some reason at one edge they have put a little hem on the bottom and it looks uneven (sorry hard to explain what I mean) - anyway will still be querying it. I was fitted in the edinburgh shop and asked for the heavy weight 16 oz. May be I'm just a typical Scot and want my money's worth which incidentally was nearly £300.
Javahaggis

**Paul Henry** · 11th April 06, 07:21 AM

£300 sounds about the right sort of price, well not unexpected at least!
but if you are not happy talk to the kilt makers and I;m sure that any decent one would want to sort it out and make you happier.
the little hem at the bottom might be a small curved one, just for a few inches, is used so that the under apron doesn't show below the front apron ( if that was the little bit you meant)

**Paul Henry** · 11th April 06, 06:42 AM

some kilts do have hems, there is nothing very odd about that, and there might be small machine type holes , that doesn't mean that it would be of poor quality. It is hard sometimes to judge the weight of cloth, and being realistic the term 16oz is a bit of a catch all...it could be anything from about 14oz upwards.