Ok, I finally have a chance to sit down and tell ya'll about my new kilt.

I am 90% happy with the service I got from Scotishkilts, and and 100% happy with the kilt. I do have a few observations that may help others in there decision to buy, and as such will be comparing it to my tank (Thomas Gordon) and a SWK stantard for some reference.

On Nov 17 I ordered a 5 yard machine made kilt in the Braveheart tartan (Jura range wool). Total price was $242 including shipping (and there was no import charge). That same day I sent an e-mail asking: how is it pleated (and if I had a choice I wanted it pleated to stripe with the red hidden), roughly when could I expect it, and finally if they had access to the Kentucky tartan for a possible 8 yard in the near future. This e-mail was never replied to (hence part of my slight displeasure with the company). However, in less than three weeks, I received an e-mail saying the kilt was on the way (parcelforce took an extra 5 days longer than their stated time to deliver, but that was not Scottish kilts fault).

On arrival, the first thing I noticed was that it was in a small box that weighed almost nothing. I was afraid that they had shipped me something else by mistake, but no the kilt was there.

The kilt was shipped without basting stitches, but all the pleats were still in perfect condition even through shipping. There was a tag on the kilt that stated that it was size 36/43/23.5, which was wrong, I ordered a 36/44/22.5 (the rest of my displeasure), but rather than complain right off, I tried it on. Fits like a glove, but is a tad (less than 1/2" short) so no big deal. The 23.5" is total length (like a SWK) not length to the buckle and then a rise (it is a 21 3/4 with a 1 3/4 rise).

I can not say how much I love this kilt. Now for comparisons.

The apron has a greater taper than my tank being 18" at the top to 24" at the bottom (tank 20/23.5 SWK 17/21).

It has 22 pleats with an average depth of about 3 1/2" (tank 22 pleats with 5 1/2" depth : SWK 36 pleats 2" depth)

Pleat depth is, I realize based somewhat on sett size, so for the record, the Braveheart is a 7" sett, my tank (Montgomery) is a 4 1/2" sett and the SWK (nightstalker) is a 3 1/2" sett.

All these kilts are pleated to sett.

Or at east sort of. I noticed that the new kilt somehow forgot the dark green stripe when pleating and as a result the back looks asymmetrical (taller rather than wider creating a 5 1/2" repeat across the back). I thought this was a little weird, but it still looks good. It did make me take a hard look at my tank though. Sure enough the tank is also fudged a little, being asymmetrical wider rather than taller creating a 6 1/8" repeat.

Three buckles with 5 holes. These are so much better than the SWK buckles (at least the '05 models) that I can's say enough about them. However, they are still not as good as my tank buckles which are as wide and thick as most belts.

Sewing is machine done. What this basically comes down to is that on the rise the sett is off slightly. My tank you can clearly see where someone took the time to keep it perfect. However since this (very) slight imperfection is under my belt, I can't see how it matters. Also since it is machine done, you don't see the stitching. I realize that seeing the stitches shows that it is a hand made garment, but it always looked a little wrong to me.

The lining on the inside starts 1" from the top and is only tacked down in a few places. My tank starts 1/4" from the top and is sewn down at the bottom (of the lining not the kilt). The SWK the lining starts 3" from the top and is completely loose.

Finally while the fabric seems to be of the same weight as my tank, it seems a little scratchier (I don't know what wool my tank is in), but than could be just the newness.

I hope to have a pic this weekend (I've worn it three times already, just no cameras handy).

Adam