Handmade custom kilt work

[ForresterModern]

I am not sure if this is the appropriate place to ask this, or if it is even appropriate to ask, but here goes, and we will see what comes of it. Moderators, please feel free to censure this post if you consider it inappropriate in any way.

I have on order 4 meters of doublewidth 13oz Dalgleish Allen 1996 tartan expected to arrive in the next couple weeks. I want to have a traditional 8+ yard handmade kilt made by one of our experts here on XMTS but really don't know the protocol for finding someone to do it and how much it would cost to have it done for me. My measurements are 45 waist, 48 hips, overall length 26 inches (24 drop plus 2 inch rise---thank you Barb). So my questions are these, and it is probably most appropriate to PM me with your answers, if you feel comfortable answering in this way.

Who are the experienced kiltmakers here on the forum (criteria would be more than 50 handmade kilts sold commercially) and where are you located? What would it cost to have my custom hand made kilt done from the fabric I would ship to you? Roughly (very roughly) what kind of turnaround time might I expect from the time we seal the deal by me sending you the fabric and either a downpayment or full upfront payment? Lastly, I guess I would ask you in your PM to sell yourself and your services, since I know none of you personally, only a few of you through traded posts here on X-marks, and only two or three of you by reputation from others posting here about their buying or ordering kilts from you. If you aren't a kiltmaker but know a good one that I should contact about this please PM me also. (I will save some of you the bother by letting you know that I have already been in contact with Kathy Lare of Albuquerque and know her info.)

Thanks for tolerating my ignorance fused with my interest.

[Barb T]

I'll send you a PM.

[Rex_Tremende]

Who are the experienced kiltmakers here on the forum (criteria would be more than 50 handmade kilts sold commercially)[...]

That's an interesting criteria, one that reflects a kiltmaker's stamina, but not necessarily their quality. It does add to the preponderance of facts that lead to a decision, though. However, isn't it possible that there may be some up-and-coming kiltmakers you'd also want to consider?

I started a thread some time ago on how to assess a kiltmaker remotely. In response, there were some good suggestions from the rabble.

Regards,
Rex.

[ForresterModern]

REx, you are right that my criteria might be a bit tough to meet, but they were designed to select out the true professional kiltmakers from those that are either beginners, amateurs or part-timers, not that any of those couldn't make me a quality kilt. I guess I thought I would hit the top ten or so who haunt the halls of this great forum and have a better shot at insuring quality with stricter criteria. I might have scared off a lot of the kiltmakers, though, as I have only had a couple responses so far, and only one of them met my criteria---Barb.

Maybe if I drop the number of traditional kilts manufactured by hand and sold to another kilt wearer to, say, 25, I would pick up a few more from the rabble.

I have not read your thread although I think it will be good reading and extremely useful knowledge, when I get a couple minutes free to graze through it. Thanks for linking it.

[ForresterModern]

Ok Rex. I was so motivated by your post and link that I decided to just Make the time to read it thoroughly, which I just did. Very useful information, and lots of opinions.

But I still think my initial criteria were pretty simple but also sublimely thorough in assessing the likely quality to be had from a particular kiltmaker. If you have spent enough time in your life to make 50 handmades it shows both a dedication to your craft, a history of having enough customers either return or recommend you to their friends, enogh experience to likely have encountered most if not all of the major problems that might confound a less experienced or less knowledgeable kiltmaker.

The other info I asked for was price and expected wait time, which in my mind don't necessarily correlate to quality, but are factors which might, under certain circumstances, make a difference in who I would chose (for instance if I was on an extremely tight budget or tight schedule). Mostly I asked them for informational purposes, not necessarily as a criterion in choosing one kiltmaker over another.

Thanks again for linking to your previous thread. You asked the theoretical question, I am asking the factual one, as I AM ready (well almost) to send off my fabric and get mine made, and desire to find the right person to do the work for me.

[Alan H]

The best kiltmaker I know, personally is way2fractious. I've seen his work and it's flippin' gorgeous. I would be proud and thrilled to own a kilt made by Richard. Richard also has done a lot of work in researching and understanding how to make Military Box Pleats. He's run up against most of the common problems and solved them. At least four X-Markers are wearing kilts made by way2fractious, and every one of them is wonderful.

But he hasn't made 50 kilts. He's a dedicated amateur and "occasional kiltmaker".

Making kilts is not magic. It is not mysterious. It is time-consuming and takes patience and care, yes, but it is not something where a "dedicated amateur or "occasional kiltmaker" cannot turn out a spectacular piece of work.

You have every right to set what criteria you wish in choosing your kiltmaker. I only suggest that you re-think this one.