Sources for inexpensive fabric

**Dunnigan** · 5th August 07, 10:59 AM

I am looking for some sources for inexpensive tartan fabric. I am making my own kilts and have not yet found a decent source for material. Poly blends would be good and of course light to medium weight wool.

**herminator** · 5th August 07, 11:51 AM

www.Martonmills.com !!

hat is where I get all my kilting material. Mostly I use Polyvis, but they also have good wool material.

**Captain** · 5th August 07, 02:54 PM

Are there prices anywhere on their site? I couldn't find any, nor a way to order off of there...

**ChattanCat** · 5th August 07, 03:21 PM

You might want to look at Fraser & Kirkbright. They are in north america.
Marton Mills is in Europe

**apack** · 5th August 07, 03:22 PM

The cheapest I have seen is the clearance section of Fraser and Kirkbright weavers in Canada. They have 11 oz. black pure wool and 11 oz. poly/wool blend in two tartans for $6 CAD per meter.

You can find the tartans and prices here:
http://www.wooltartans.com/tartans5.htm

**Alan H** · 6th August 07, 05:30 PM

Fraser and Kirkbrights remnants page is great. I've bought three tartans from them.

**Captain** · 6th August 07, 07:18 PM

CRAP! I just spent my birthday money, and then I see that on the F&K website, they've got 16 oz wool X Marks tartan with a bad selvedge for $20 CAD a meter. I'm assuming that one could have some kind of hem or stitching put in it to keep it from unraveling, right? If so, this would make some darn fine kilts on the cheap.

**cacunn** · 7th August 07, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by herminator

www.Martonmills.com !!

hat is where I get all my kilting material. Mostly I use Polyvis, but they also have good wool material.

Does Martonmills sell to the public in small (single kilt) yardage?

**richardljohnson** · 8th August 07, 05:12 AM

"Does Martonmills sell to the public in small (single kilt) yardage?"

Yes, I have ordered frequently from them. You can order by Phone BUT beware of the credit card charges from your bank on the conversion to pounds. It took me about 2 weeks to get the fabric but it came on fiber tubes (cardboard) and about 72 inches long so postage/shipping REALLY cost! Bulk order of a single fabric are great but ordering 10 meters of 3 different fabrics and each came on it's own roll was a little hard to handle. Shipping cost as much as the tartans! This was 2 years ago so I don't know if they still handle shipping this way but it is something to check on.

Here are the places I visit now...
http://www.kilts.com/polyviscose.htm - They carry/can get all the PV that Marton Mills make and if you figure in the fabric cost, shipping cost from UK and the credit card conversion the cost is very reasonable to me. Also they shipped priority post and in USPS mailer. I don't know if they can get the wool tartans but I am sure they can make arrangements.

http://www.thefrugalcorner.com/ - Not quiet the selection but WHAT A PRICE!!! I orders 5 yards and received it in about a week. I have not made the kilt yet but I am already to order more fabric.

I have not ordered from Fraser and Kirkbrights yet but....

Also I read in another post that SPORT KILTS will sell fabric by the yard. I have several 'house kilts' from them but I have not tried to order fabric from them.

I would also like to hear more places and MAYBE (HINT HINT) X-Marks could keep a running list of vendors that have fabric. While I know not everyone that wears a kilt will get the urge to make one but just in case this would help the do it yourselfers.

Richard-

**cacunn** · 8th August 07, 06:29 AM

Now if only these people would realize that Cunningham is the best looking tartan there is and stock it in large enough quantity that the cost would drop. Then they could start some runs of PV in 13 and 16 oz.

Yes I have other delusions that I will not go into here.