Well, at long last my Barb Tewksbury kilt has arrived.

A little of the backstory to begin with. The tartan was purchased in November last year off of Ebay from Bill Clezy in the UK. I purchased 4 metres, double width of the Black Watch Tartan, Military weight from a supply that was originally intended for the Black Watch but was no longer needed. Several of our members got in on this great deal.

While trying to decide who should make my new kilt for me both my wife and I agreed that it should be none other than XMarkstheScot's very own Barb Tewksbury. I had heard numerous favourable comments from many happy customers of hers. Of course Barb is a very (very, very, very) busy person. She was off to a field lab and asked that I mail the tartan to her at the first of the year which I did. Let the jonesing begin. After several emails and phone calls it was decided to pleat the kilt to the double black stripe, put on no "belt" loops and use 3 buckle straps. Barb even took the time to pin up a couple of pleating samples and email me a photo of each of them.

As we all know Hamish had the honour of having his kilt constructed partly in Iceland. Barb, as I said is an extremely well traveled person and as such I had the pleasure of learning that my kilt was worked on in South Africa while she was presenting at a Geology Confrence, and also in Arizona while working with NASA.

Well, the big day finally arrived when I received a note on my door that I had a package to pick up at the Post Office. Needless to say I made a bee line for the Post Office right after work. The package was picked up and taken home to be carefully opened.

The Kilt was carefully wrapped in heavy white paper to protect it during shipment. Of course there were 4 rows of basting stitches to hold everything in place. Also included in the parcel was a Kilt Passport and a complimentary pair of flashes. The first thing I noticed when I first held the kilt was that this sucker is heavy. This is no whimpy kilt, it weighs in at a little over 4 1/4 pound of tartan (did I mention this is military grade tartan). The second thing I noticed of course was the craftsmanship.

Barb claims that she hand stiches her kilts. I think that she infact weaves the pleats into the kilt because I would challenge anyone to pick out individual stitches. There has to be some Scottish magic at work here.

After carefully taking out the basting stiches I immediately had to try the kilt on. The fit and hang of the kilt are perfect. If good things come to those who wait, then great things certainly came my way. Barb does amazing work. In fact the only complaints that I have are that I didn't have Barb build a kilt for me sooner, and secondly that I'm not on the waiting list for another of her fine creations.

Pictures will be taken this evening, so more to come....