A case for the Kilt Detectives

[Iain Robb]

We all know there are no Kilt Cops, but you folks are so good at ferreting out facts and information that I'm convinced we have a good corps of Kilt Detectives here. So here is your case, if you choose to accept it:

My wife has always been opposed to solid-color kilts. She recently declared that she liked one solid-colored kilt I showed her at the Central Florida Highland Games. Which one, I asked?

"I don't remember." AAAAAARGH!

She remembers it was black, and had a pattern that was not a "shadow tartan" or a tartan.

Any ideas of kiltmakers that have such an offering? I've searched the web to no avail.

[Chas]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I bet the butler did it.

Regards

Chas

[ForresterModern]

Colonel Jock Scot, in the English garden, with the haggis.

Okay seriously. There are actually several non-tartan solid colored kilt fabrics that have various emblematic designs woven in a box repeating pattern of emblem alternating with an empty box in both horizontal and vertical directions. Emblems I have seen are the Rampant Lion, Harp and the Thistle and several vivid colors like red, green, purple, yellow and blue. Here is one example of what is available on House of Edgar's site:



For the full list of their offerings:

http://www.houseofedgar.com/acatalog/Other_Fabrics.html

[seanachie]

Just FWIW regarding solid colors, I have both a saffron and solid green kilt no one mistakes either one for anything but a kilt and I think they look sharp. Iget plenty of compliments on both. On the saffron I will give credit to John Hart of Keltoi who did a great job.

[Iain Robb]

Just FWIW regarding solid colors, I have both a saffron and solid green kilt no one mistakes either one for anything but a kilt and I think they look sharp. Iget plenty of compliments on both. On the saffron I will give credit to John Hart of Keltoi who did a great job.

I agree. I would like a solid black kilt, and I don't think anyone is going to say, "Hey, that's not a kilt, that's a skirt," just because it's solid. Anyone except my wife, that is, and since she's so supportive of my kilting in general, I want to pay attention to her thoughts.

[creagdhubh]

I am rather fond of solid tweed kilts.

Cheers,

[Pleater]

I can't help with a patterned black kilt, however, the young bloods of the Free Cornish wear a black kilt and a leather hat - with other things, of course. They look rather dashing.

Whenever I sojourn in Sidmouth - closer to Cornwall than my usual home, I am asked if I come from Cornwall on days when I wear the black kilt/leather hat combination.

One problem with a black kilt is that it tends to become a grey kilt in a few years, depending on the amount of time it is worn out of doors, and possibly the fibre type as that dictates the type of dye used.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Cowher]

I am rather fond of solid tweed kilts.

Cheers,

I will give this a huge ***

[ForresterModern]

I guess I am still at a bit of a loss as to what kind of black kilt fabric has a "pattern but not a shadow tartan and not a tartan". Unless it was a tweed or something similar, or it was a very dark tartan (such as Black Isle) that she just did not recognize as a tartan because of the lighting (Black Isle requires pretty good lighting to see the subtle extremely dark charcoal pattern on the black background. I have also seen one casual non-kilt related hooded jacket in an extremely dark grey-black camouflage pattern---maybe it was a modern/casual kilt in something like that.

[kiltedwolfman]

The Ben Dhub is another black tartan, and a mighty fine looking one at that.