Kilt weight

**Alaskan** · 21st March 04, 04:36 PM

I am expecting my first kilt to arrive sometime in the next couple weeks. It is a 16oz 4 yard kilt in Morrison green.
I am getting ready to buy a second and third kilt. Unfortunately, many of the tartans I am interested in (MacKinnon modern hunting, Pride of Scotland, United States St. Andrews, and Irish National) are hard to find in any weight but 10oz.
Does anyone have a 10 oz kilt? Are they a practical choice? I am worried about the appearance of the kilt, as the 10oz fabric has a tighter pattern. I am also worried about the kilt becoming worn out quickly.

**Blu (Ontario)** · 21st March 04, 06:34 PM

Hello, Alaskan...
Re: the tartans you mentioned... the "tighter pattern" (smaller or miniaturized sett?) may be an indication that the fabric might not be genuine kilt material. Where are you were having your new kilt built?

**Alaskan** · 21st March 04, 07:09 PM

The 16oz kilt I already ordered is from www.mcrok.com

I haven't ordered any 10 oz kilts yet, but mcrok.com is the place that I have looked at the most, and is also the one that said that the 10oz material has a tighter pattern "so that the pattern is easier to see on items such as neckties."
I have also checked many other kilt making sites on the net and I haven't been able to find the tartans I mentioned in anything heavier. I think most of the places are being supplied by Locharran. I know that is where mcrok.com gets their fabric.

**Rob** · 22nd March 04, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by Alaskan

Does anyone have a 10 oz kilt? Are they a practical choice? I am worried about the appearance of the kilt, as the 10oz fabric has a tighter pattern. I am also worried about the kilt becoming worn out quickly.

Alaskan,

There are many disadvantages to a 10oz fabric kilt.

It will not hang and swish properly.
The pleats will go out of shape very quickly.
The slightest wind will have your kilt up around your shoulders.
With the smaller tartan sett (pattern), it is more difficult for the kiltmaker to pleat it to the sett (so that the appearance from the back is similar to the appearance of the apron at the front).
Wear and tear will be much higher than for a heavier weight kilt.

Rob

**Alaskan** · 22nd March 04, 04:46 AM

Thanks, I guess I'll just keep looking until I can find the tartans I want in heavier cloth.

Has anyone ordered a casual kilt from www.scottishkilts.net? They seem to have a couple of the tartans I am interested in in 13oz material.

**Rob** · 22nd March 04, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by Alaskan

Has anyone ordered a casual kilt from www.scottishkilts.net? They seem to have a couple of the tartans I am interested in in 13oz material.

Alaskan,

If you can afford it, I would go for the 8 yard kilt if I were you. It will hang and swing better than the 4 yard.

Rob

**Alaskan** · 22nd March 04, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Rob

If you can afford it, I would go for the 8 yard kilt if I were you. It will hang and swing better than the 4 yard.

I don't know... I'd rather have two kilts that don't hang and swing as nicely, than one kilt that looks REALLY good.
Eventually, I will probably buy at least one full 8 yard kilt for formal occasions, but at this point getting more 4 yards makes more sense to me. Especially since where I am I don't think anyone will notice the difference even in the most formal of formal occasions, except a couple times a year when I go to conferences for foreigners in my line of work, and there will be a couple Scotsmen and women there. And they aren't exactly black tie affairs.

**bubba** · 22nd March 04, 07:41 AM

I have one coming from Scottishkilts.net. They emailed me to let me know it should be here by the 29th. Their services seems pretty good for a made to measure orderedinternationally. Less than 5 weeks from order to arrival if their email is correct. I'll let everyone here know how I like the kilt when it arrives.

**Chris** · 22nd March 04, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Alaskan

I am expecting my first kilt to arrive sometime in the next couple weeks. It is a 16oz 4 yard kilt in Morrison green.
I am getting ready to buy a second and third kilt. Unfortunately, many of the tartans I am interested in (MacKinnon modern hunting, Pride of Scotland, United States St. Andrews, and Irish National) are hard to find in any weight but 10oz.
Does anyone have a 10 oz kilt? Are they a practical choice? I am worried about the appearance of the kilt, as the 10oz fabric has a tighter pattern. I am also worried about the kilt becoming worn out quickly.

I have an 8 yard kilt in 16 oz. and and 8 yard in 13 oz. The 16 oz. is, in my opinion, far superior in the way it hangs and holds its pleats.

The tartan in my 16 oz. kilt normally somes in a medium 13-14 oz weight. For an extra charge of $50 I was able to have the tartan custom woven in a heavier tartan.

You should ask your kilt retailer if you can get your preferred tartan in a custom weave in a heavier tartan. You will probably have to pay an additional charge and wait a little longer to get your kilt but its well worth it. You probably will have to order a minimum amount of fabric too. I had to order enough to make an 8 yard kilt.

I would never buy another kilt in less than 16 oz.

**Colin** · 22nd March 04, 10:05 AM

Alaskan
Have you tried Bear Kilts. They carry both 4-yard and 8-yard kilts that come in both poly/viscose and wool. They are a great casual kilt and they are very economic. check them out at www.bearkilts.com
I have two 4-yard kilts, and will be oredring an 8-yard next. I'm just saving my pennies and deciding on my next tartan.