Affordable Fabric?

**Jim H.** · 20th May 06, 07:18 PM

Hello all, Does anyone have a link or know of a shop that sells tartan fabric for the budget conscious? I've been looking around for a Great Kilt (i.e. 6-8 yards of tartan fabric) on the net, and I can't justify spending $60-70 per yard. I really would like to go kilted, but are there more affordable options? I know about companies like SWK but I really want the worsted wool. I guess what I'm saying is that I would like to pay $125 or less for a Great Kilt. Is this a reasonable expectation or am I being greedy?

---Jim

**Panache** · 20th May 06, 07:28 PM

Jim,

You are being greedy

...Seriously though you should be looking at ebay and all the fabric stores in your area on a very regular basis. The clearance bin is your friend in these matters. I seen enough posts that talk about a great find of tartan but fortune is going to favor the patient and the persistent (just like fishing).
Also regularly check out all the kilt shops online (Scottish Tartan Museum Gift Store, Celtic Croft, etc) many have clearance tartan. I don't know if you can get as low as you are looking, but there are bargins out there. Good hunting.

Cheers

**I M Kilted!** · 20th May 06, 07:30 PM

aloha, here ya go!

I've bought lots of remenant tartan from them, its really good tartan, they change their rementants monthly, and they have excellent customer service; and they wove the custom x-marks tartan:

Fraser and Kirkbright

You could also try this, they sell some wool blends, donegal tweed and some tartan patterened wool:

M . J. Cahn Co., Inc.

**Jim H.** · 20th May 06, 07:36 PM

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

**Southern Breeze** · 20th May 06, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jim H.

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

I think this thread will answer most questions you have concerning wearing a tartan you have no connections to.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...7&page=1&pp=10

**Iolaus** · 20th May 06, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Southern Breeze

I think this thread will answer most questions you have concerning wearing a tartan you have no connections to.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...7&page=1&pp=10

Oh man! You're mean!

**Panache** · 20th May 06, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Iolaus

Oh man! You're mean!

He may be mean, but he is still legendary....

...or maybe he is legendary for his meaness...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........

**Southern Breeze** · 20th May 06, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Iolaus

Oh man! You're mean!

That thread does cover a lot of ground. It could be considerd a "crash" course.

**I M Kilted!** · 20th May 06, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jim H.

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

I don't think so, technically you're allowed to wear any tartan you want to, there are no written restrictions. I think (and what I have heard) is that if you wear a tartan from another clan/organization you should at least know some of the histroy, but if you wear it in a respectable manner it should be cool. If you are making a great kilt I would buy some of the Light Grey Tartan, mabye 4-6 yards depending on your waist it would be about $30US

Here is some stuff about tartans:

"So what is there to consider when buying your first kilt? The first question that is the most essential is what tartan do you want to wear. Individual tartan patterns today typically have a great deal of significance. Now, it was not always so. Up until the industrialization of the tartan weaving industry and the romanticisation of everything Scottish in the nineteenth century, tartans did not have names, for the most part, and those that did were typically worn without much thought as to what it might be called in the tartan shop. People wore tartans they liked. Period. And you can feel free to do the same today. In fact, it's probably the most traditional thing you can do.

That being said, time does not stand still. Today, the tradition has evolved to the point where tartans are representative and symbolic. Tartans that represent clans are the most familiar, but tartans can also represent families, cities, states, events, businesses, individuals, occupations, you name it. When you wear a particular tartan, you are identifying yourself with whatever that tartan represents. Most people choose to wear a tartan that has some connection with their heritage. But the choice of which tartan to wear is entirely personal. There are no "requirements" to wear a tartan, no "authorizations" needed. You simply pick the tartan you want to wear, whatever your reason.

Most people, no doubt, choose to wear a tartan associated with their family. Typically, if the actual surname you bear has a tartan affiliated with it, this is the first choice. However, there is nothing wrong with wearing a tartan from your mother's side of the family, or your great-great grandmother, for that matter. Maybe you like that side of the family better and wish to honor them by wearing their tartan. Maybe you find your father's tartan unattractive. Maybe one tartan is simply more easily available than the other. There could be many reasons to consider, but it is entirely up to you."

Taken from: http://albanach.org/advice.htm

also, check out: Hearldry and Tartans sub-forum

**Wulfestieg** · 20th May 06, 08:04 PM

There are lots of fabric warehouses around, at least in all the major cities. Places like S.R. Harris (http://www.srharrisfabric.com/) here in Minneapolis, or Mill End Textiles (http://www.millendtextiles.com/). which has a number of locations throughout the Midwest. If you do a google search, or the like, you should be able to find something like that in the nearest metro area to you.

These places have tons and tons (literally) of wools, in all kinds of patterns. If you put the time and effort into looking, you can usually find good wools or wool blends, in the $20/yd range, and often can find really good deals even cheaper than that.