Kilt Pin, Anchor Weight Or True Pin?

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Readers
If you are as I am, you may not want to poke holes in the Expensive Wool just for 'show'. I have two heavy thread loops on my kilt, that the pin goes into, when I wear one. If I catch the pin on 'something' I am likely to tear the threads outs, and not rip a hole in the apron. The 'rip the apron' factor keeps me from wearing a kilt pin for all but 'classy' reasons(wedding,R.Burns night ect)

[Chas]

Readers
If you are as I am, you may not want to poke holes in the Expensive Wool just for 'show'. I have two heavy thread loops on my kilt, that the pin goes into, when I wear one. If I catch the pin on 'something' I am likely to tear the threads outs, and not rip a hole in the apron. The 'rip the apron' factor keeps me from wearing a kilt pin for all but 'classy' reasons(wedding,R.Burns night ect)

Charles, I think that you are worrying unduly. Yes it might happen and it might happen on a Burns Night, or at a wedding or any classy event as well. If you think of all the things that could go wrong, then you would never wear it.

My kilt pins are poked between the threads, not through them. Take out the pin a quick rub - no hole.

Regards

Chas

[madmacs]

Well if legend, myth and rumour are to be believed... It's purpose WAS to hold the inner and outer apron together...

One of the many citations: http://www.gaelicclothing.com/kiltpins.htm

Personally I like the clan crest pins I have, so until I can afford a nice silver battleaxe one I'll be using them...

[Paul Henry]

Well if legend, myth and rumour are to be believed... It's purpose WAS to hold the inner and outer apron together...

One of the many citations: http://www.gaelicclothing.com/kiltpins.htm

Personally I like the clan crest pins I have, so until I can afford a nice silver battleaxe one I'll be using them...

if you carefully read that passage again, you will see the it was NOT to hold the aprons together

[madmacs]

if you carefully read that passage again, you will see the it was NOT to hold the aprons together

Like I said... One of the MANY citations...

http://www.scottishshop.ca/the-kilt-pin/

[davidg]

Like I said... One of the MANY citations...

None of which agree in the detail and none of which say that the two aprons were pinned together. One wonders also how they know all these years on that the soldier "was mortified at the thought of exposure". Poetic licence, perhaps?

I suspect the truth is close but even if the queen, or her lady in waiting, or anyone else for that matter did pin the aprons together that day then it would soon have been realised it was a rather silly thing to do. Ask any boy scout about securing anything too tightly in a storm

It is difficult for the two counter opposing aprons to fly up and result in exposure because there's a big military sporran in the way so a kilt pin has to be largely decorative rather than practical IMHO

[madmacs]

Y'all did read the bit about myth rumour and legend right?...

[Paul Henry]

Y'all did read the bit about myth rumour and legend right?...

the reason for my comment about your earlier posting was that the reference you cited did not say to pin them together, it actually said the front apron , not through both I have copied the portion here, ( my emboldening) so my point was only that the reference you quoted did not suggest what you thought it did

LEGEND HAS IT THE KILT PIN WAS INVENTED BY Queen Victoria. While inspecting Highland troops on a windy day, she noticed one soldier valiantly attempting to keep his kilt apron from flapping. The Queen instructed a lady-in-waiting to stick a hat pin through his front apron, thus weighing it down.

Kilt pins today range from highly decorative swords, Celtic knotwork designs, and stylized animal interpretations. A common misconception is to pin both aprons together. This will cause the kilt to hang improperly and could damage the fabric. Kilt pins are often worn three inches up from the hem and three inches in from the fringe. An older traditional method is to wear it halfway up the apron.

[madmacs]

And they say humour is dead... Go figure..

[Four]

I wear it for weight, especially since my kilt is pretty light and can get away from me on a windy day :o

I have been known to pin it together too (SORRY!)