Girl question

**fluter** · 22nd February 12, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Thorina

Footwear....well....that's pretty much what got me going on wearing a kilt.
I wear this everyday:

I have found much the same thing in my orthopedic adventures: the kilt is very convenient. Nice thick kilt hose go well under an air splint (on my right foot).

AirBoot by arcturus1997, on Flickr

**Thorina** · 22nd February 12, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by fluter

I have found much the same thing in my orthopedic adventures: the kilt is very convenient. Nice thick kilt hose go well under an air splint (on my right foot).

AirBoot by arcturus1997, on Flickr

Yes, it is a very servicable garment.
I've done a skirt with cast or walking boot, it's not the same, not even close. Difficult, is a better way to describe it. A kilt is not a skirt.
I have several pairs of jeans with one leg cut off at the knee....as pants and a cast or walking boot just don't mix.
I had the brace made, as it was looking like I'd be in a walking boot indefinately. I seriously got my life back. I can walk, etc just like regular, for the mosty part. The hindges are fully ajustable, so I can have as much or as little flex as I want. Also has springs in it that help with foot drop.
The brace lady is currently working on the prototype for a "sport" version to fit in my motorcycle riding boot (mx), and hockey skate.

The whole discussion of doing Scottish Trials in a kilt came up because of knee braces. I wear 2 similar to the one in the header pic....but with metal bars and hindges. You can't wear regular jeans with them on and expect to move easily.
So, your choice is to always be in riding pants. Modern riding pants are generally "loud"....extremely colorful, etc (the opposite look that you'd want on a vintage trials machine)....and pretty dang hot, though ironically don't keep you very warm on cold days.
Pipe burns on the legs would be the only issue to dead with, been thinking of solutions to that. I need to make one....then see. Simple as that.

A sewn, pre-pleated, if you will, great kilt is a potential solution to many things. Also would be a fabulous garment for before and after motocross races.

There was a fella at the races years ago, desert races in SoCal....his mom made him basically a kilted wrap so he could modestly change from street clothes to riding apparal back to street clothes while keeping his man bits covered. Many guys just drop trou, some do it at varying levels of modesty. The great out doors in the morning and early afternoon basically turn into a mens locker room.
Anyway, this fella's mom made him this wrap and ended up making a dozen or so more for his friends. After a long ride, being able to modestly lose your sweaty underbritches and have an air out is very nice.

About a year or so ago, I saw a fella up here in NorCal with the same sort of deal, though, in looking at pictures recently, I'd say it was a store bought sport kilt, of some sort. He did the same thing and stood quite tall at the awards celebration at the end of the day.
Making it a great kilt, rather than a regular one, would also give you the "hood/cloak" ability once you start cooling down. I can get a good case of the shivers in 70 degree weather after a race, once I start cooling down.

**Thorina** · 22nd February 12, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Kinetikat

Thorina! Ma sorella! Well, OK, unlikely to be actual sisters, to be sure (a little matter of a pond between us for starters), but hey, I identify totally with the body shape! My darling Dad has also uttered the immortal words, "Built like a brick lavatory" about me when in untactful mood. And I have to say... alas, 'tis true. Even when slimmed right down I have no waist to speak of - I have a very short-coupled body, my ribcage finishes approximately 2 inches above my hip-bone, so my body shape is... well, pretty much rectangular! Think Spongebob Squarepants in a kilt... heh.

Looking at it a bit more positively, I think ours is a body type that is well set up for Heavy Athletics - strongly-built upper body, slimmish hips, strongly-built legs. I find thinking "Xena: Warrior Princess" rather than "brick sh*thouse" when looking in the mirror is kinder on the morale, and just as 'realistic'!

Built for plowing fields and birthing babies!

....and arm wrestling.

I've always played rough and tumble sports. After taking ballet lessons for many years, even en pointe, I look like a tu-tu clad linebacker. Much to my mother's chegrin, I never made it to the ranks of *graceful*. I have always been more comfortable in cleats than ballet slippers.
I couldn't, pull off a "Peg Bundy" if my life depended on it.

I was a little sad several years back when I decided to try to get back into field hockey that they no longer wear a fairly traditional kilt. They've gone to these flat skirt things, lycra, etc. Really sad to see such a fine tradition go by the way side.

**Thorina** · 22nd February 12, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Piipriker

as a german I'd say he'll love it.

If not, well ...

Are there family tartans for Germans? I found a German National tartan, are they more? And are there any that are family name specific?

I would very much like to attend the next SF pub night or event. I told the better half that I wouldn't force him to go kilted, but that after he got there, he might just feel more comfortable kilted than being the odd man out in trousers.
He's sort of a traditionalist, as well.....so if I could make/buy him one in a tartan that he could feel a heritage pride in, all the better.
There's a good chance he'd arrive in pants and I'd turn him and his kilt over to a group of guys....here....take him and show him what to do.
I'll be waiting at the bar.

**Piipriker** · 22nd February 12, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Thorina

Are there family tartans for Germans? I found a German National tartan, are they more? And are there any that are family name specific?

I would very much like to attend the next SF pub night or event. I told the better half that I wouldn't force him to go kilted, but that after he got there, he might just feel more comfortable kilted than being the odd man out in trousers.
He's sort of a traditionalist, as well.....so if I could make/buy him one in a tartan that he could feel a heritage pride in, all the better.
There's a good chance he'd arrive in pants and I'd turn him and his kilt over to a group of guys....here....take him and show him what to do.
I'll be waiting at the bar.

**Kinetikat** · 22nd February 12, 04:36 PM

Wow, Piipriker, that family tartan is really intense! Love the colours!

**Thorina** · 23rd February 12, 12:46 PM

WOOOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!

Got my kilt this morning! Almost kissed the mailman.

I'll post pics a little later.
As far as a quick, first "glance" type review.....yes, there are corners cut in the making of this kilt. No doubt. I knew it when I ordered it. But, you'd have to be half an idiot to think you're getting a full hand made custom heirloom quality kilt for what I paid for it. I couldn't buy the yardage to make it myself for the price. For an every day garment, for what I do, I am sure to be ordering 2 more from this guy. Again, for the price, I will be able to work in it and not be worried about getting it dirty or otherwise doing something damaging to it. I am tough on clothing, at times. I would never be able to work comfortably in a $400-$600+ garment. Grease, dirt, sharp, and rusty things. This is basically like a pair of work jeans....with flare and a breeze.

Best craftmanship? No, but again, for what I paid for it....it's good enough. I know full well how much work it took to make this.
Not the highest quality fabric. Like at all.....but again - good enough.
This will not last long as a crisp, "Sunday go to meetin'" garment. It'll be fine for the event on Saturday, but I can tell that it won't stay very "crisp" for very long.
That's just fine....it is what it is.

Based on the utilikilt knock off I bought from the same person, I ordered one size larger, as I think the utili is a tad too snug. It's sized a little differently, as it's in a different design and different fabric.
I like the feel of the "wool" (feels like a wool blend or something or just plain really cheap wool), better than the "canvas"/heavy twill whatever the utili knock of is made of.
Yes, I plan to buy more from the same person in the future.
Again, for the price, and for what I will be wearing it for, this is essentially in the price range as a pair of Carhartts.

When it comes time for a nice quality purchase.....again, I'll either make it myself with good quality wool in a tartan that means something, or I will ask for suggestions on a quality (not likely heirloom quality) kilt maker.
I make expensive clothing items for other people....I don't generally buy expensive clothing items from others. LOL

Pics to come. Gotta get some work done.

**davedove** · 23rd February 12, 02:28 PM

Short answer is wear what you want!

That being said, you could always get a kilted skirt of about the same length as a kilt, but made for women.

**Thorina** · 23rd February 12, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by davedove

Short answer is wear what you want!

That being said, you could always get a kilted skirt of about the same length as a kilt, but made for women.

You're in Frederick?
I grew up in Clarksburg (age 9 and up).
Went to Damascus High until they kicked me out. I did way more things/activitites/sports than my older brother, but he was much more charismatic than I was.

Small world.

**Thorina** · 1st March 12, 01:16 AM

Update:

I went tio the reunion, but wore industry blacks and a green sweater. Quite remarkably ordinary.
I didn't find a jacket, nor a shirt that would work at all. With a sweater, just looked stupid. Looked like a stupid looking skirt, rather than a kilt. Weird conservative Steam Punk gone wrong.

On to the next thing.
It's an inexpensive kilt, thus very good for me to work in. Not particularly flattering, but extremely comfortable to wear. We're moving approx 3500 sq ft of motorcycle stuff, industrial shelving, and pallet racks in the next 30 days....it should give the whole kilt thing a pretty good real life run.

Ok, going to make a great kilt, modern style to ride trials. I want a mostly black tartan, with yellow/gold and vibrant red. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
It needs to look sharp with this jersey:

I went to the local fabric store today in search of something close.
Yeah....uber fail on that one.
Ok, so.....where does everyone go to buy tartan? Do you only buy it online?