I agree that the amount of material doesn't matter as much as the construction. Most knife pleated 4 yard kilts are the cheaper machine stiched but there are of course exceptions. From everything I have read a box pleated kilt can be a "full" kilt at four yards or less. Knife pleated does not seem to be "complete" at four yards because of how the yardage is used. Once again, its the construction that counts.

The family tartan is for the other side of the family. The tartan is buchanan where my ties to buchanan are my mothers family which is gibson (a sept of buchanan). My fathers grandmother is Steward. My grandmother has Robson in her but I can't find any tartan for them. Possibly because they were a lowlander/border family. Oh and that side of my family is fairly redneck. I don't mean this in a derogitory manner, but even my dad calls himself and family redneck. Most of that side of the family dislikes my long hair and doesn't understand why I make maille and my interest in swords. I don't expect most of them to like the kilt, but I may be plesently suprised.

The question of where to wear something like a stillwater (or other budget kilt) is somewhat unanswered. With this it isn't just an issue of color/pattern or of material but of quality of construction. It isn't tailored, so they don't fit quite as well.