Kilt Pins

[Hamish]

Hi All, I really enjoy kiltpins. In fact I have started to make my own. They are a great way to express what you are feeling or to make a special statement. So far it has proved hard to get kilt pins that are not traditional swords etc. It would be great if a few good designers out there would design and make a pin that reflects the 21 century. I do have the TFCK (21st Century Kilts) pin. See my website for details. It's really heavy and stands upto my kids sitting on it than some of the more trad types.
Happy Kilting
Daneel

Hi Daneel,

I agree with you about the TFCK kilt pin - the Lightening Flash - it IS a good, heavy one. I have just ordered my 11th TFCK kilt (in beige corduroy) so will have my 11th TFCK kilt pin soon. By the way, when you have a TFCK made for you, you get a kilt pin and a pair of kilt hose at the same time, with Howie's compliments.

Good photos on your website too.

[Graham]

Daneel, your web photos have inspired me to be more creative with kilt pins, I just have the usual claymore/clan pin.

I love the one of the Mts of Mourne, reminds me of a favourite song

[Graham]

I have begun a search for interesting kilt pins, I found some lovely designs here:
http://www.lindaclifford.com/KiltPins.html

I like the wooden ones very much, now, where is that lathe?

[David in Maryland]

I like the stag horn pin. When I go deer hunting next Fall, I need to remember that and make myself one. I will give the rest of the antlers to a guy a know who makes knives to make me a dirk and sgian dubh.

[Martin]

The other day on the parade ground, a group of Highland band members were discussing kilt pins.
Our drum major dropped a bombshell by saying that kilt pins were really for women, not men.

I have difficulty swallowing that one, so what do you all think?
Where did kilt pins come from?

I disagree with your band members Graham, kilt pins intended for gent's kilts are available from all the top kiltmakers in Scotland, and elsewhere. I think a kilt pin adds the perfect finishing touch to a kilt outfit. Perhaps your friends were talking about the large safety-pin style pin, often seen on ladies kilted skirts.

[bear]

I have begun a search for interesting kilt pins, I found some lovely designs here:
http://www.lindaclifford.com/KiltPins.html

I like the wooden ones very much, now, where is that lathe?

That's funny Graham,
For the 5 years previous to becoming a kiltmaker, I was a woodturner!
As a matter of fact, I learned how to turn by watching a video by an Australian guy named Richard Raffin, one of the world's top turners.
I still have two lathes, including a very nice Myford bowl lathe but no time to use them.

[Graham]

There you go Bear! I know you're a busy lad, but what a fine idea to turn some of those wooden kilt pins! They would perfectly compliment your kilts.

I've spoken to a local woodturner who is going to make a couple of pins for me from the beautiful Tasmanian timbers we have here.

[Hamish]

I disagree with your band members Graham, kilt pins intended for gent's kilts are available from all the top kiltmakers in Scotland, and elsewhere. I think a kilt pin adds the perfect finishing touch to a kilt outfit. Perhaps your friends were talking about the large safety-pin style pin, often seen on ladies kilted skirts.

I had exectly the same thought, Martin. The large 'safety pin' style seems to have gone right out of favour for us chaps and it is mainly only the ladies who wear them now, on their kilted skirts. When I began 'kilting' in the early 50's those were just about the only type of kilt pin available. I remember flipping when I saw my first sword kilt-pin years later. It was in solid sterling silver and I believe I saved my pennies for many months to be able to buy one like it. I wear it still, with my dancing medal, on my 1973 Ancient Gunn kilt.

[bubba]

At present I use a filigree crodd with an opal in the center as a kilt pin. It works very nicely and looks pretty good

[Hamish]

At present I use a filigree crodd with an opal in the center as a kilt pin. It works very nicely and looks pretty good

And probably worth an absolute fortune, Bubba!! It's been many a long year since I saw an opal-centred crodd - especially a filigree one! The only other crodd I have ever seen is in The Tower of London forming part of our nation's Crown Jewels!!!!!!!!!