Calling major jones

[TimButterfield]

The 0-5 kilts thread has me thinking of this aspect of kilting. Like GoodGirlGonePlaid, my kilt collection is on the verge of exploding. What is it about sampling a kilt that makes me want kilted living? I first started wearing a kilt last week, a Stillwater Standard in black watch. It was quick to arrive. I bought a second kilt at a highland games last weekend, a tan Got Kilt? modern. I have been wearing them out and about. The company I work for lets me work from home. So, I have not yet had to confirm the office dress code. Though I only have two kilts, I've managed to wear them every day this week. I just had to take care to keep them clean. I like it and want more. Now, I have three more on order and am anxious for them to arrive. I need to stop my squirming or I will mess up the pleats in the two I already have.

This is cause of the jonesing:

• USA Kilts - It is their 5 yard wool kilt in 16oz Xmarks tartan. There was a slight premium to get the fabric from Steve, but I think it will be worth it. Given the chance, I rushed it and should have it in a few weeks.
• Burnett's & Struth - It is their casual kilt in 16oz Washington State tartan. This one should be the next to arrive, a week or so later. I was pleasantly surprised they agreed to add a couple of extra yards of fabric to their on sale casual kilt. This is also the tartan I most wanted and they happened to have it in stock. I'm excited!
• Matthew Newsome - This is his 6 yard knife pleat kilt in 16oz Carolina tartan. Given Matthew's deserved popularity, this one will take longer to arrive, about six months. If longer than a marathon is an ultra marathon, maybe this will be ultra jonesing. An extra 6 yards of single width fabric may arrive more quickly. While that will provide something for DIY, it will probably renew the jonesing for this one as it will be that much closer to arriving.

This should provide a good sampling of some short yardage tanks. I still want to try a box pleated kilt also. Perhaps this set of kilts, along with some DIY and the Xkilt, will satiate me for a bit longer ... until someone here mentions another one for me to try.

[OC Richard]

Those sound like great choices! I see that you're attracted to unusual tartans, top-quality heavyweight tartan cloth, and good kiltmakers from the beginning, a very good start indeed.

My personal "jones", one I've had for many years, is for a MOD-spec Cameron Highlanders kilt, 18-22oz military cloth in Cameron of Erracht tartan, boxpleated to the yellow line.

[Pleater]

You might need to look around for some beefy hangers - I found that my creation of ever heavier kilts brought about the destruction of wimpy plastic hangers.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Livingston]

Welcome to the addiction. We do have help for you with your kilt addiction in our 12 step program:

Step 1. Buy kilts.
Step 2. Buy Hose.
Step 3. Buy flashes.
Step 4. Buy sporrans.
Step 5. Buy kilt pins.
Step 6. Buy fly plaids.
Step 7. Buy jackets.
Step 8. Buy sgian dubhs.
Step 9. Buy shoes.
Step 10. Learn to make kilts.
Step 11. Hang out on X-Marks.
Step 12. Repeat as necessary and have a good time with friends and family.

[TimButterfield]

Welcome to the addiction. We do have help for you with your kilt addiction in our 12 step program:

Step 1. Buy kilts.
Step 2. Buy Hose.
Step 3. Buy flashes.
Step 4. Buy sporrans.
Step 5. Buy kilt pins.
Step 6. Buy fly plaids.
Step 7. Buy jackets.
Step 8. Buy sgian dubhs.
Step 9. Buy shoes.
Step 10. Learn to make kilts.
Step 11. Hang out on X-Marks.
Step 12. Repeat as necessary and have a good time with friends and family.

I am well on my way. Steps 1-4 are completed with multiple repeats of one in process. A repeat of step 4 is in process with a custom Thorfinn sporran (black buffalo with black synthetic bone beads for the tassel ends). I started on step 5, but the chrome was cracked. That one needs a mulligan. Steps 6, 8, and 9 will be skipped. To me, my wearing of a fly plaid (6) would be a bit too dress up or 'playing at' for a non-Scot. I do not feel the need to carry a weapon (8). As for shoes (9), anything with a heel aggravates my lower back. Due to a hyper mobile lumbar disc that could lock and drop me where I stood, I had to walk with a cane for a while. Eliminating heels corrected my posture and let me put away the cane. So, since the brogues have heels, brogues are out. Step 10 is in process as I have already ordered tartan fabric. It is the other half of the double width from my 6 yard Carolina. Step 11, of course, almost goes without saying. Step 12, as much as possible.

That was a cool list. Thanks.

[TimButterfield]

You might need to look around for some beefy hangers - I found that my creation of ever heavier kilts brought about the destruction of wimpy plastic hangers.

I agree. Right now, I have borrowed one of my wife's wimpy plastic hangers. It works okay for the lightweight got kilt? modern. My Stillwater standard is just laid out flat. I will definitely need to get more and heavier hangers for when the new kilts arrive. I will dig around here some more to see if I can find some recommendations. Thanks for the reminder.

[TimButterfield]

Those sound like great choices! I see that you're attracted to unusual tartans, top-quality heavyweight tartan cloth, and good kiltmakers from the beginning, a very good start indeed.

My personal "jones", one I've had for many years, is for a MOD-spec Cameron Highlanders kilt, 18-22oz military cloth in Cameron of Erracht tartan, boxpleated to the yellow line.

Thanks. I have learned much from this forum about how to go about my kilt acquisitions. Since I am of non-Scottish background, or at least not sufficiently connected, I decided it would step on less toes if I avoided the unnecessary. For me, now that I have found it, the wearing of a kilt is necessary. Though I could do it anyway, wearing of specific tartans is not really necessary. So, I will try to stick more towards the universal and district tartans wherever I can make that determination and maybe be a little less offensive to those who are a little more sensitive.

That is some heavy cloth you are desiring. A couple layers of that would make a nice coat. During winter, I often wear a Filson's Double Mackinaw Cruiser coat, which is two layers of 24oz wool. I cannot even imagine a kilt made of similar material. It would certainly qualify for the tank label. Wow.