New to kilting and in need of guidance..

**Danwell** · 28th March 10, 06:39 AM

I've been lurking on this site for a while and looking to purchase my first kilt, just for fun. I'm aware that the PV kilts aren't the "best" available, and I've read a lot on these forums about the Gold Bros businesses, but I'm not in a financial position to be spending mega bucks on a kilt at this stage.....i'll save that for further down the track!

Now, I've stumbled accross this, which is in my opinion a gorgeous tartan, but i have a question for those of you who are more well versed in kilting.

I'm quite.....thick......around the middle, but I am also very tall. The 48 will fit around the middle just fine, but I'm concerned about the overall length. I'm six foot eight, so I don't know if the standard "approx 24 inches in length" is long enough. I'm about 20 inches from my hip bone to the absolute top of my knee, and I think I'd prefer the kilt to come to about mid knee.....is 24 inches likely to be big enough?

If not, has anyone had experience in asking HoS or Carse of Gowrie for a "custom" length kilt?

**BEEDEE** · 28th March 10, 09:25 AM

Danwell

. In response to your first comment PV (polyviscose) comes a very close second to wool. I think you are confusing PV with acrylic. Here is a link that might help you with your fabric decision making: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...33/#post717190

Brian

**billmcc** · 28th March 10, 09:47 AM

The kilt you provided a link to is made of "viscose and cotton mixed fibres". It is not a good quality poly viscose like the material made by Marton Mills.

A kilt with a standard 24-inch length is going to be too short for someone of your height. You need to get a custom kilt.

Here are two US companies that sell a custom 4-yard kilt made of quality MMs pv for about $115:
USA Kilts: http://www.usakilts.com/store/cas_kiltpage.php
Skye Highland Outfitters: http://www.skyehighlandoutfitters.co...Kilt_Page.html

**Riverkilt** · 28th March 10, 10:01 AM

You don't say where on the Planet you live...???

Wherever that may be you are most certainly a made-to-measure type guy. Off-the-rack isn't gonna work for you.

So, FORGET about off-the-rack purchases...they're probably gonna be way too short for your height.

Best bet is to find a kiltmaker who can measure you themselves...or, second best, build a kilt to measurements you have a friend take.

That doesn't mean you're gonna have to spend a lot of bucks. USA Kilts makes made-to-measure in their casual model kilts. You'll be most pleased at the value for the price.

Just, whatever you do don't buy a stock size 24" long kilt just because its cheap - it'll be a disaster. You can verify this by taking a towel or other fabric that is 24 " wide and seeing how it would look as a "kilt." Probably gonna look like a mini-skirt on you with your height and waist.

Repeat after me; MADE-TO-MEASURE ONLY....

You'll be glad you did. Really.

If you're not there financially yet then keep on saving...'cause whatever you "invest" in an off-the-rack kilt is gonna be wasted money for you.

Highland games are blossoming. Maybe you can catch one near you and find a kiltmaker's booth. Avoid the middle men - stick with a vendor who makes the kilt for you themselves rather than sends off the measurements to someone else.

I'm a made-to-measure guy myself. When you get around to buying kilt jackets you're gonna need the same made-to-measure service.

Its not a bad thing. I think we look a lot sharper when our kilts and jackets were sewn up to fit us rather than us trying to fit into a premade garment.

**Danwell** · 28th March 10, 04:37 PM

Thanks for the link Beedee.....I should have made my post a little clearer.....I've been reading these forums for about six months now, and have read a lot about the fabrics used to make kilts. I understand that people's opinions differ, but everyone is agreed that worsted wool is the "best" quality, sits nicest and lasts the longest, while PV is cheaper and not as "nice"

Those Skye Highlander kilts are still very cheap (not much more than the HoS ones really), and if they're better quality and better fit, I think I'll order from them.

I know that USA kilts are forum sponsors...what are their $100 kilts like? As good/better/not even close to the Skye kilts? PM if you've got anything sensitive to say ;)

**Rob Wright** · 28th March 10, 05:12 PM

You will find many reviews of USA Kilts different PV offerings. Rocky and Kelly have a solid reputation here.

Rob

**bricelythgoe** · 28th March 10, 05:35 PM

I would go with the semi of USAK or 8 yard PV from SHO. Then again, I am not a fan of 4 yard casual kilts.

**xman** · 28th March 10, 06:23 PM

Hi,

N00b myself, but you have to ask yourself, what do you want the kilt for? If it's a party kilt then PV is the way to go. I recently had the opportunity to see the various fabrics for myself (Thanks Mikey) and PV is a lot like cotton in the feel and durability for washing and such, but with the flow and hang of a medium weight wool. Very serviceable stuff. If you want something to dress up in and take your fine looking partner out to cocktail hour and for semi-formals and such, then it's wool all the way. The two fabrics do look different, but neither is bad. It just depends on what you want it for. If you're looking for something to bridge that gap then I'd say what my brother said to me, that it's easier to dress a nice kilt down than to dress a medium one up and from my past experience a good wool 8yd kilt is a very hearty garment.

I have also discovered that the PV casuals don't usually come with straps like the wool casuals do, they tend to use velcro so a belt is probably necessary and it won't quite look the same, but you still get to decide what you need. Me, I'm looking at two kilts right now for the fact that I want to use them for different purposes. Personally, I'm very attracted to Josh's price points at SHO myself and he's been a good communicator with me so far. If you're in the UK though, you might want to look around out that way.

Just my 2¢,

X

**WClarkB** · 28th March 10, 06:17 PM

truth be told, you do get whatcha pay for. As you found one numerated in GBP, I will assume you have to pay VAT and dont have much of a shipping issue. The lenth as stated by others is a concern.

My tuppence, the construction of one is not difficult, the satisfaction immense (but habit-forming) and the fit is custom. A PV first kilt is great, you will hunger for more (my first was cotton, sewn myself, about a year ago. I am now working on kilt number 3 and bought another one as well; have cloth for a fifth and am lusting after some more material. So be thee warned)

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 28th March 10, 07:06 PM

Having now seen a USAK casual I can describe how it's made better.

I prefer a proper kilt made of wool. But after working with PV I might end up with one of them on me one of these days...

A good semi trad from USAK or an 8 yard from SHO will come with a relatively low cost. a kilt that can be machine washed, and still hold it's own in a room full of hand sewn wool kilts.

USAK is a longtime advertiser here and Josh has mentioned working towards becoming a paid advertiser. Most everything I've heard of either company has been good.