where to buy a kilt

[David Dubh]

Hi all I have two questions to pose here.

1) I know Scotweb has a good reputation, but I'm not sure about their kilts being part machine and part hand sewn. I checked with them and the pleats are machine sewn, I had expected this to be hand sewn and things like the waist band machine sewn so my question is can you tell the difference when you look at this compared to a completely hand sewn kilt?

2) My wife and I are going to spend almost two weeks in Scotland this September. We will be in Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and the boarders can you give me some ideas of where to buy a good made to measure kilt at a good price?

3) would I notice much difference between a heavy weight and a medium weight 8 yard kilt?

Slainte David
8 weeks and counting

[Gryphon noir]

(1) Well, Scotweb is pretty good quality by my experience. I have two handmade kilts, and I have to say the Scotweb kilt is not far behind in quality.

(2) I hope some of the rabble have a few good suggestions to make your trip an interesting adventure!

(3) Yes, I think you will notice quite a difference, especially if you're considering
an 8 yd. kilt. Personally, I would prefer the medium weight. If you're going for a heavier material, I would suggest a box pleat with a little less yardage. You will find it more balanced and not so warm in summer, yet comfortable in cooler weather.

[CDNSushi]

I have a kilt from Scotweb that I like very much.

My advice would be not to get so caught up in whether it's hand or machine sewn. Buy it for what it is -- a nice, well-made, affordable kilt, from a reputable company. If you go into it with such a mindset, you won't be disappointed with the result. If you absolutely must have a hand-sewn kilt, there are many kilt makers on this forum that would fit the bill nicely.

Which leads me to answering your question: Can you tell the difference? Assuming that both the machine-sewn and hand sewn were made with the utmost of quality.... The operative word is YOU. If you pose the question with "you" being reflexive (as in: "yourself") then yes. You would be able to tell the difference on very close inspection.

If "you" is being used as an indefinite pronoun, then no. I cannot imagine I would allow anyone to get so intimate with me or my kilt in order to be able to scrutinize the stitching so closely... And I would certainly question the intentions and motives of anyone who tried.

[Dale Seago]

Which leads me to answering your question: Can you tell the difference? Assuming that both the machine-sewn and hand sewn were made with the utmost of quality.... The operative word is YOU. If you pose the question with "you" being reflexive (as in: "yourself") then yes. You would be able to tell the difference on very close inspection.

If "you" is being used as an indefinite pronoun, then no. I cannot imagine I would allow anyone to get so intimate with me or my kilt in order to be able to scrutinize the stitching so closely... And I would certainly question the intentions and motives of anyone who tried.

Exactly right.

I have hand-sewns, and I have either machine-sewn or mixed hand/machine sewn kilts. And yes, I can tell the difference. . .

. . .if I look closely enough.

That's a difference in how they look, not how they feel. They don't feel any different.

Anyone else who can visually tell the difference in MY kilts had, in order to avoid injury resulting from the intimate scrutiny required, better be an attractive and unattached female.

[Riverkilt]

My suggestion would be to buy directly from a kiltmaker you know and trust rather than from a middleman who has kiltmakers working for them. Only because I've heard so many sad stories about kilts ordered through middlemen and so few about kilts ordered from established kiltmakers with experience in the business.

[Dale Seago]

Yes, most excellent advice!

[David Dubh]

Thanks for the advice Riverkilt! Now can someone recommend a kilt maker in any of the places I mentioned. Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow or the boarders???
Slainte David

[Galician]

This request has come up several times in the past. You might try a search for threads about tailors in Scotland with the search feature (our unheralded friend here).

Myself, I have a couple of kilts from Geoffrey (Tailor) of Edinburgh, which sewed my first and still favorite kilts.

[Chas]

My suggestion would be to buy directly from a kiltmaker you know and trust rather than from a middleman who has kiltmakers working for them. Only because I've heard so many sad stories about kilts ordered through middlemen and so few about kilts ordered from established kiltmakers with experience in the business.

I am in tentative agreement with Ron - but - how do you get to know and trust a kiltmaker, other than by trial and error. A man could end up with a lot of badly fitting kilts, before he finds the one that fits.

So in the end, you have to go to a maker that someone else knows and trusts and hope that you will get the same service.

That having been said, Geoffrey (Tailor) is excellent. A visit to the shop at the top of the Royal Mile, near the castle is an education in itself.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

Chisholms of Inverness, Castle St., (at the rear of the Castle). Few equal them and none better them, but I doubt that they will be your cheapest option!

Be warned. Most Scottish kilt makers will assume that you want the kilt pleated to the sett and will do so, unless specifically instructed otherwise