Amount of material for a Great Kilt?

**GunnHighlander** · 9th January 07, 01:20 PM

Good day all,
I was wondering if anyone can tell me the correct length of a great kilt (end to end). I have heard as much as nine yards of fabric, and as little as six. Does it depend on height or waist of the person wearing it, or personal preference, does it even matter?

I am thinking of getting the material for a great kilt in the Gunn ancient or weathered tartan and wondered how much yardage I'd need. Thanks for the help/advice.

Pax,
J.T. Nelson

**thescot** · 9th January 07, 01:50 PM

If you have double width tartan, six yards will be more than enough! Please, trust me. Mine is, I think, 54" wide X five or six yards long in 13 oz Red Robertson.

I am 6' - 3", about 240 pounds (I'm not fat; I'm big-boned), and mine is either five or six yards (I'd have to measure to be sure). It is plenty of material, and it looks great.

If you try to wear nine yards of wool, you'll probably faint from the weight alone. You just don't need all that, and when the excess is piled up over your shoulder, you'll see that 5-6 yds is plenty.

**Caradoc** · 9th January 07, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by GunnHighlander

I was wondering if anyone can tell me the correct length of a great kilt (end to end).

Four-and-a-half to five yards of 60" wide cloth will do.

I've heard from a couple of sources that the "nine yards" reference comes from taking nine yards of 30" wide and sewing one long seam to make it 4.5 yards x 60".

**David White** · 11th January 07, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Caradoc

Four-and-a-half to five yards of 60" wide cloth will do.

I've heard from a couple of sources that the "nine yards" reference comes from taking nine yards of 30" wide and sewing one long seam to make it 4.5 yards x 60".

Correct I do believe. More than enough.

**Splash_4** · 9th January 07, 02:12 PM

Also check out this article from Matt Newsome, our very own kilt historian...

http://www.albanach.org/kilt.html

**Sylvain** · 9th January 07, 02:18 PM

The length of fabric is not linked with the bearer's height.
The fabric is turned 90 degrees, so 54 or 60 inch wide fabric will be enough for a man's height. The same for a small kilt: the six or eight yards of fabric is wrapped around the body, and the height of the kilt is determined by the fabric's width.

**MacWage** · 9th January 07, 06:38 PM

The FIRST kilt-esque garment I EVER wore was a Great kilt (though I STILL prefer the term belted plaid, or BP).
I bought 8 yards and tried to put it on. I IMMEDIATELY cut off 2 yards (which became my second hand-made, and first box pleat, kilt)! I the cut off more.
I also have one that is 3.5 yards! Here is a pic of it:

AND I have a 43 inch butt (hip)!

I prefer 4-5 yards for mine (I have a number of them).
One member likes 6.