Bespoke kilt advice?

[Jimmy the Celt]

I believe am ready to get a bespoke wool kilt but cannot decide exactly what I want. Living in North Texas it gets bloody hot in the summer and sometimes down into single digit temps in winter; quite a gap in extremes. However, most of my time is spent indoors. I have concluded that I would rather have three or four nice tanks rather than a closet full of inexpensive kilts. I would like an 8 yard model and am hoping that a 13 oz. wool would be a good compromise for year-round wear, though I have not ruled out a 5-yard model.

Presently, I am considering USA Kilts and the Scottish Trading Company. Is it worth spending the extra money for a non-top-stitched kilt? USAK has terrific prices on wool kilts in the Celtic Nations tartan (top-stitched); that might be a good way to go for my first wool kilt, but I have other tartans in mind (Boyd, Irvine, Ayrshire Ancient, saffron and others). Or maybe I should get a nice tweed? But I am not asking for help choosing tartans . . .

For $475 US I can get an 8 yard, 13 oz. kilt from Scottish Trading Company. That is mighty tempting.

Please note, I am not a rich man; I am a poor man who kens the value of clothing made well. I have done a good bit of reading and feel moderately well informed, but this is a major investment for me.

Edited to add: My weight changes between 175 and 185. It worries me a bit that I might get the wrong size!

Jimmy

[Richrail]

I can't say enough about USAkilts I have three five yard wool kilts. I have one 13 oz. and two 16 oz.

[mookien]

Jimmy: FWIW - My opinions.

I own two 8-yard 13 oz. kilts that are very nice. But, I prefer my 16 oz. kilts. They hang and swing better and they are not that much hotter in the summertime. When it snows, they are warmer.

I own a number of 5-yard kilts in 16 oz. wool and like them as much as my 16 oz. 8-yarders. They, too, are cooler in the summertime (and wintertime) and cost significantly less.

I recommend USA Kilts, but I am biased, because I have done business with Rocky before and have always received excellent service and products. I have no knowledge of the Scottish Trading Company, because I have not done business with them.

I have no problem with top stitching in theory, but I don't own one, yet.

I wouldn't worry at all about a 10 lb. weight swing. That's what belts and buckles are for.

John

[McMurdo]

My advice starts with get the best kilt you can afford, get measured correctly by your kilt maker if possible as each maker has their own way of doing things. I would go for the 16 oz rather than the 13 for the reasons given above.

[IsaacW]

Heavier weight for the above and for better protection in wind. Heavier also holds pleats better. You are better with 16 oz or better and go lower yardage. Top stitching is fine, but I prefer the look of the more traditional stitching.

Isaac

[Couper]

I have one of USAKilts' 5-yard wool in Celtic Nations. I also have a casual in Celtic Nations. They are both wonderful garments and I own one of each for less than the price of just one 8-yard tank. I also have a USAK in American Hertitage. USAKilts is a solid company with great product quality, reasonable pricing and top-notch customer service.

[Pleater]

Life has been a little hectic this year, and my lightweight kilts were never retrieved from the rail at the back of the sewing room, so I have been wearing kits which weigh in at about 4lb all through the summer, except for half a day when I put on shorts and found they were hotter than the kilts.

We have had sun, we had plum rains - and I think that I was actually more comfortable in the heavier kilts than I would have been in the lighter ones. Certainly when walking in the rain the heavier kilts did not cling but swung freely, diverting the water away from my feet.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Jimmy the Celt]

There appears to be a kiltmaker in Arlington and one in Plano, which are relatively close, but it looks like the kilts are the kilts are actually made by House of Edgar. I may call them and see if they can do the measurements. In the past, using the instructions from USA Kilts resulted in a good fit, but better safe than sorry, eh?

[ShaunMaxwell]

I know there's a kilt maker in the Fort Worth area... Cathy McWilliams is her name, if I recall correctly.

She's a member of SAMS and I've seen several examples of her work at the Salado Clan Gathering.

I have her business card at home, and can post her contact information here or PM it to you if you're interested.

Cheers,

SM

P.S. She seems to be a member here, though she hasn't logged on in a while:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...w-forum-72152/
http://highlandgames.wikia.com/wiki/...005_interview)
Her

Her numbers are:
(253) 219-6074 and (817) 888-3553
Fife & Thistle
fifeandthistle@redmcwilliams.com
By appointment only

[Jimmy the Celt]

Thank you for the response. I would love Mrs. McWilliams contact info. I am less than an hour from Ft Worth.

As I mentioned above, I would like to end up with around three or four wool kilts. The first thing I do in the morning is don the kilt, and I usually wear it until I get in bed for the night. One has been worn almost daily and has not been washed in three weeks or so. That might sound unsanitary, but I firmly believe that kilts stay cleaner longer than do trousers; they do not get up in your "business" like pants. Nevertheless, I think a good wool kilt will stand up to many more years of daily wear. How often might I need to get them cleaned? I suppose I am wondering if I am right in thinking I can wear a wool tank daily from morn to night and expect it to hold up for at least a decade or two, this being a pricey investment for me.