Review of "Braveheart" kilt

[Graham]

Left hand buckle is hidden...unusual!



Well in arrived! the tartan I've been looking forward to.
I promised I would post piccies and a review.
It's not always wise to speak about a kilt after first glance and a quick try on, but if I don't do this now I'll never get around to it.

Cost:
$275US
This is an expensive casual, mostly because of the cost of the wool.

Construction:
This is a 5 yard casual. I requested a more traditional style with sewn waistband, side fringe, selvedges edge, and sewn pleats because the wool is very open weave and I think difficult to hold a pleat.

While this kilt was built to a price and we all know you get what you pay for, I was dissappointed with how it was made when compared with other casual kilts.
The pleats are not sewn, and they go right to the top instead of being sewn at least down from the waistband.
The waistband is narrow and is mearly a continuation of the pleats, rolled in and sewn down, rather than a 'proper' waistband.
There are only two thin leather straps, the left hand strap is hidden under the apron rather than the traditional outside strap.
The lack of a third strap causes a little ballooning of the kilt and combined with the other factors give an overall "skirty" look.

There are no belt loops.
If it looks a bit long it's because it's longer than I asked for.
The kilt has a nice side fringe.

Tartan:
I think it is called Braveheart, it is the same tartan from the same mill as was used in the movie Braveheart.
It is coarse, open weave and not the most comfortable, but I expected that having seen a sample. This contributes to the very earthy, rustic feel to the tartan. The colours are lovely.

Time will tell how much use I get out of the kilt, not a kilt for windy weather.
I've confident that the beauty of the tartan will override it's shortcomings.

[N. Campbell]

It is a very nice tartan and it looks good on you.
Congratulations.

[cessna152towser]

Nice pictures and interesting review, Graham, should look good for casual wear.

[McClef]

It's growing on me!

There will be a pic of me and a Braveheart shortly in these forums!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Graham,

I'm sorry you were a bit disspaointed in the construction of your kilt. I just wanted to chime in with a few points.

The inner fastening on the left is unusual, but not without precident. I make my kilts that way, modelled after a 79th NY Highlanders (American Civil War) era kilt. See:
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

Also, my kilts (and a lot of other kilts, I should add), don't have the lower "third strap" on the right hip. Here's why:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

I think the "ballooning" of the kilt that you speak of is due more to the fact that the pleats themselves are not sewn in to the hip, and possibly due to improper hip measurements (wouldn't know this without being able to measure the kilt). Anyway, it's not due to the "missing" lower strap, as normal kilts without this feature lay perfectly fine at the hip -- in fact many comment that they lay better without the third strap pulling across the front apron.

Anyway, I hope you can enjoy it!
Matt

[Caradoc]

I think the "ballooning" of the kilt that you speak of is due more to the fact that the pleats themselves are not sewn in to the hip, and possibly due to improper hip measurements (wouldn't know this without being able to measure the kilt). Anyway, it's not due to the "missing" lower strap, as normal kilts without this feature lay perfectly fine at the hip -- in fact many comment that they lay better without the third strap pulling across the front apron.

I'm going to agree with Mr. Newsome, here.

My best/favorite kilt is the one I got from Celtic Craft Centre, and it does not have the lower right-hand strap - just the ones on the waistband.

The "ballooning" you mention is what several kiltmakers call "kicking," and it's generally caused by not sewing down the fell, or failing to tailor the left-side apron pleat.

[Fearnest]

What a beautiful tartan - the kilt looks super, too! Congratulations!

[RockyR]

Matt... I don't think it's so much the "wrong measurements" as the fact that there is no fell and no "angle-ing" for the hip measurements.

[Graham]

Thanks Matt, Rocky and the lads for the feedback.
I'm sure I will enjoy the kilt, I enjoy all my kilts, they are like children with the joys and frustrations but all of value.

I've ordered a Irish national casual from Rocky for St.Patricks Day, so if the mailman is nice to me I'll have two new kilts to wear for the occassion.
Life is good kilted

[Chef]

The tartan looks great! While the belt set up is fine I would prefer some of the other more traditional construction you brought up so I certainly understand how you feel. Again the tartan is great so I hope you get some use from it.

Actually this tartan might be well done as one of Matt's box pleat kilts. Hmmm.