5 yard vs 8 yard

**Woodsheal** · 2nd January 13, 01:02 PM

Perhaps this should be moved from "historical" to "advice"...?

**cessna152towser** · 2nd January 13, 01:14 PM

Thread moved to Kilt Advice, where it is more likely to be seen by those to whom it will be of interest.

**Stan** · 2nd January 13, 02:20 PM

That sound great. Thanks.

**Dale Seago** · 2nd January 13, 04:19 PM

My first wool tartan kilt was an 8-yarder. Since then, I've had five 6-yarders made by Matthew Newsome at New House Highland (with 2 straps/buckles); and four 5-yarders by USA Kilts (with 3 straps/buckles).

No one has ever noticed or commented on the fact that they're not 8-yarders, and I'll happily wear any of them anywhere under any circumstances.

**crash** · 2nd January 13, 06:55 PM

Stan, just to give you one more thing to think about I'll tell you about two of my kilts. One is a 5yd 16oz from Brunett and Struth in Sir John A. MacDonald tartan and the other is a 8yd 13oz from USA Kilts in Ancient Colquhoun tartan. The 5yd has a custom pleat arrangement due to the large sett and few yards and the 8yd is pleated to the stripe. At 16oz to the yard the 5yd is still 5lbs and at 13oz to the yard the 8yd is 6.5lbs so not a huge difference in wieght. I like them both for different reasons. I will probably have more 5yd kilts in the future but the very next one will likely be a 8yd 16oz/18oz.

**Stan** · 2nd January 13, 07:03 PM

Great info Crash, and that answers a lot of questions that I've generated too. I have to 8 yard 13 oz. kilts pleated to set, and one 8 yard 16 oz. kilt pleated to set as well.

In my curiosity about combinations (and after receiving my new 16 oz. 8 yard kilt today) I was thinking that I really like the feel of the 13 oz. I find all your combinations of weight, and fabric length interesting and informative.

Thanks again.

**Stan** · 2nd January 13, 06:55 PM

Dale, your information's really helpful. So, you have 9 or ten kilts.

Just wandering how do you pick your tartan, what's your tartan of choice, and what weight material are your kilts?
With my name being associated with Macgregor I have a lot of tartans to chose from. So I have a macgregor modern tartan, a macgregor ancient tartan, and an black watch tartan. two kilts are 13 oz, and one is a 16 oz. All traditional cut.

Just wandering what your decision parameters have been.

Thanks

**Jock Scot** · 2nd January 13, 10:17 PM

Alright, a traditional Scots perspective here which admittedly is not based on experience of anything less than 16oz cloth, your weather which is a relevant consideration, 8 yards of cloth and kilts that are of a traditional style. Nevertheless, an observation that I have made whilst being on this website is this, a traditional cut kilt with its higher waist does allow it to be far more versitile-----Scots like this idea!

Let me explain. With a modern cut kilt, by which I mean the lower cut waistline style, it appears to make the wearing of kilt jackets and particularly waistcoats(vests) difficult to wear to advantage. In other words there is more often than not a large expanse of shirt to be seen betwixt kilt top and waistcoat bottom, which is something to be avoided if one wants to look at one's sartorial best. With the more traditional cut of kilt with its higher waist it is far easier to avoid this "dreaded gap". In the meantime there is nothing to stop you wearing the more traditional cut kilt to the car show, or pub either.

With the greatest of respect, I think you might be better considering the "cut" (style) of your kilt and what you are intending to do with it long before you consider, tartan, weight, what its made of and length of cloth.

**Stan** · 2nd January 13, 10:42 PM

Sage advice, and great information.

Being new to the whole kilt situation, it 's interesting to read, and hear the opinions of (potential or possibly) life long kilt wearers, and others. It's interesting to take in all the kilt buying and wearing variables, as they apply to application, location, and use.

As a new kilt owner, like I suspect most of the "new kilter's" out there, we've mostly been exposed to only the surface of the "kilt culture" and it's very interesting to see more aspects of kilt ownership, it's considerations, and applications. Frankly I had no idea as to the depth of variables, and options available in kilts.

I'm suspect that for many of us simply buying a kilt came with the commitment to trying something some what foreign to us. I really appreciate the information that you've given me (to all of us) , and am enjoying all the thought that it's provoking.

Thanks