On the town with mkmound: Kilt Night Pictures Los Gatos

[Panache]

It was a wet Friday evening in Los Gatos.

The day's showers had subsided to an occasional drizzle and the bright lights of the downtown beckoned. Visiting mkmound was joined at the Willow Street Pizza and Grill by The F-H.C.A.G. , way2fractious, Alan H. , and yours truly. Sadly TimC and the lovely Damaris were unable to join us and they, as well as our other Nor Cal kilties, were in our thoughts. We decided to struggle on in spite of these absences. So began an evening of good food, drink, kilts, conversation and laughter.



mkmound, The F-H.C.A.G. and Alan H. waiting for a table




This was our best Hamish




This was simply Dreadful




After dinnner it was time for some serious kilt talk. As the restaurant didn't have the table space we headed over to the Tollhouse Hotel where mkmound was staying and comandeered the lobby. Alan was sporting his newly made box pleat kilt in the California Tartan. Don't adjust your monitior it is much darker than the version Sportkilt sells. way2fractious has been studying two older military kilts to learn how to make military box pleats. Ladies and Gentlemen I am pleased to say he has cracked the code! The military box pleats are really sharp looking. I am very fortunate that w2f has agreed to make me my X Marks the Scot tartan kilt in this style. I had also agreed to to do some knife making for w2f in exchange for an actual Scottish made handsewn kilt he had bought on EBay and repaired. I am now the proud owner of an actual "Tank" in the Black Watch tartan.


Alan H. and his box pleats





way2fractious and his military box pleats




Panache regarding the elk horn that will be turned into a dirk handle for w2f



To be continued...

[Panache]

Removing the basting stiches w2f put into the kilt when he was cleaning and repairing it (it looks as if it were brand new!)






New Tank!






way2fractious brought second kilt to change to so we could examine the military box pleats up close.




Interior of the kilt




The Pleats again



Our "Cardboard Derek" tribute. Kilts and Fireplaces, they go together like scotch and scots




To be continued...

[Panache]

We headed off to the Los Gatos Brewing Company for further refreshment and spent the rest of the evening swapping stories. Round midnight we called it a night and headed home. As we walked back toward the hotel and parking lot The F-H.C.A.G. recited Robert Burn's "John Barleycorn" from memory. Appropriate, as I think Burn's would have thought this was an evening well spent.



w2f is chained to his cycling










Here's one for Dreadbelly "way2fractious' sgian dubh is a pair of sewing scissors!"



Throughout the night as we perambulated the rainslick sidewalks of old Los Gatos we receieved a lot of stares and many shouts. All were friendly and positive (if not slightly tipsy). It was great to see mkmound again. Mark, have a safe journey home and we all look forward to seeing you again on your next trip.

All in all a Super Evening!

[way2fractious]

way2fractious brought second kilt to change to so we could examine the military box pleats up close.

What tartan is the second kilt?

The second kilt (of the five in my possesion at the beginning of the evening) is a casual kilt I made using United States Marine Corps MARPAT (or Desert Digital). It's hard to beat for lightweight ruggedness and comfort, but not as warm as wool, obviously. It's my first choice for all sorts of outdoor adventures in California's climate - and for air travel because of it's lack of metal parts.

The third kilt was for Panache - a handsewn "tank", acquired second-hand from eBay, labeled by an individual kiltmaker somewhere in the British Isles (only a name and phone number on the label.)

The fourth kilt is a 1948 Black Watch, brought along just for comparison to Panache's kilt. It was also acquired on eBay and it was so dirty upon arrival I had no choice but to clean it. I chose to handwash it in Woolite and cold water - TWICE before it washed clean. It took two days to dry because of the massive number of layers before it could be basted for pressing.

The fifth kilt was really a lady's kilted skirt. However the Black Watch sett size and shades of color matched almost perfectly with Panache's kilt and will make a terrific fly plaid. So, with Barb T's instructions on how to hand purl a fringe, that will be it's eventual form.

w2f

[Dreadbelly]

What lovely pictures!

Small intimate kilt nights are a hoot aint they?

The sewing shears was a nice touch.

[GMan]

I have heard that the Tollhouse Hotel had an awesome lobby. It really makes the Kilts stand out. Awesome pictures of what looks like a great time.

[turpin]

Great looking kilt, Panache. That is one of the brightest Black Watch tartans I've seen. So often the greens blend into the blue/blacks.

The MBP sure looks complicated, especially wen it comes to basting for a cleaning and pressing.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Looks like a WONDERFUL time. Thanks for sharing.

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

...
The MBP sure looks complicated, especially wen it comes to basting for a cleaning and pressing.

Actually, w2f demonstrated how he basted the kilt when making it and it didn't really look too complicated-just a matter of picking up the right edge of the fabric-I'm sure he can explain it better. In fact, eagerly awaiting his post on this thread-some further amusing pictures are forthcoming!

Be well,

[Alan H]

It was a great time, and I have to say, w2f is one mighty fine kiltmaker. The man knows his business. This military box pleat is one of the most beautiful Kilts I have ever seen, and no kidding on that. It's ruddy gorgeous.

mkmounds X-Marks tartan kilt(by Kathy Lare) is pretty darned nice, too.

w2f brought a Black Watch regimental kilt that he'd recently hand-washed, basted and ironed out.

Oh, my....OOOooooooh, MY was that nice. VERY nice. *cushy*

You all also want to see, no, you NEED to see a pic or two of w2f's new kilt belt. It's NICE.

Now,why my tongue is half-out while I'm talking to the F-H.C.A.G at the bar I leave you all to guess. I also note the F-H.C.A.G.'s boot in a dangerous location in the "box-pleat-shot". Maybe I should be nice to her!