Do most people whom you meet ask about your kilt?

[Vince]

Bubba -

I am astounded that you make your own kilts! It is absolutely fantastic that you have to abilty to make your own. If I tried, people would wonder why that guy was wearing a plaid sack.

[Alaskan Celt]

[Graham]

Interesting post Mychael, and I'd pleased that you are free enough to share openly with us about married life. You sure seem to have a good and supportive wife there.
Mine will come around in time, some of my five kids are supportive, the two teenagers left at home are not. When we go out together they always keep a distance as though they don't want to be seen with their father.
My eldest son loves kilts himself.

Today i attended an afternoon church meeting, people had gathered to see a slide show by a missionary from the Gilbert Islands (Republic of Kiribati).Some I knew, most I did not and those who did know me were not used to me in a kilt.

My response was to systematically go around the circle of seated people and introduce myself and shake hands. I got a few skirt comments, and questions about what happens when the wind blows (all the women wore skirts - I bet they weren't asked that question!!).

So in short, I like the full-on, get-in-first approach to show people that I am not the one with the hangups and express the confidence and joy I have in being kilted.

I had an opportunity to stand up and sing a Tamil hymn I learned while in India, I reminded them as part of the intro that most men in India are unbifurcated, that should have settled the matter!

Kilting is a tremenous confidence builder, isn't it!!

[bubba]

Bubba -

I am astounded that you make your own kilts! It is absolutely fantastic that you have to abilty to make your own. If I tried, people would wonder why that guy was wearing a plaid sack.

It really isn't difficult, but it is time consuming and requires patience. There are a couple websites that have instructions for making a kilt. If you can sew you can make one.

[Mychael Sporrano]

Kilting is a tremenous confidence builder, isn't it!!

In my experience it sure is; however, you had better have some confidence going into it!

I took a stroll last night into an adjoining neighborhood and had a girl from a dubious looking trio of teens say, "Kick-*** kilt." I also had two other positive responses from men my age (does kilt wearing seem to be primarily an over 40 yrs thing?? Maybe because few kids can afford 'em?). It is funny how a nice comment can bolster one's confidence. Of course, a negative comment can have the opposite effect sometimes

That is a tough situation with the kids, though, Graham. My two are young and rather proud of my kilts. They also wear kilts (my 5 yr old son was the first of us all to wear one when my mother-in-law brought back a kilt from the U.K. for my daughter (?!) a few years ago. She never wore it, so last winter I put my son into it for a funeral of a family member. He looked smashing, and I decided that I had to get in on the action!!)

I am not sure what I would do if I had older, disapproving kids or if I thought that my dress were causing them sincere grief. You have a very tough situation there with your immediate family. Offhand, I am inclined to say that were I in your situation, I would probably feel discouraged and tend to wear kilts less, possibly not at all other than around the house or in formal situations. This would be more a result of a poor spousal reaction than anything else, however, because I figure that kids are designed to be embarassed by mom and dad as a matter of due course. If it isn't a kilt, it'll be the family car or the way I greet their friends... You get my point.

When I first got a casual kilt my wife was funny about it and I do recall it bugged me to some extent that I sensed her discomfort when I would wear it out in public with her along. She was never overtly opposed but I could tell from her body language that she had concerns. She quickly got over her unease (after one outing!), but had she not I am not sure how things would have progressed.

Just curious, is it the casual kilt to which she objects, or to all kilts? I cannot recall your wife's answer in this regard from Blu's questionnaire.

It is becoming a big non-event in my life and I am grateful for that, makes me go on with my day like it is an every day occurrence for me to be kilted, and it is.

I don't live for attention, but I like standing out from the crowd a bit. My wife and I are both 'different' insofar that we do our own thing regardless of what others think. A few of the neighbors look askance at me. My mother-in-law dislikes my long hair, and she keeps asking my wife if I will ever wear pants again. Despite the fact that we get along very well, I still like that I can annoy her by simply being me <g>!

In a few weeks we are all attending the wedding of a family member who has specified casual dress is to be worn. Basically, it is a biker wedding, the type where a good bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon is considered an excellent choice of gift for both bride and groom. Mom-in-law asked me what I plan to wear... I ALWAYS wear a kilt, so to me it is a decision of WHICH kilt to wear. She is worried that the bikers will ridicule me and has suggested pants as an alternative. What she is worried about is being seen with me, I suspect, but she will deal with it just as she has dealt with introducing her long-haired son-in-law to her various friends over the years, usually with some qualifying comment such as, "But he is good to my daughter..." she sighs with resignation.

She at least deals with my choices. Conversely, my grandmother has asked me NOT to show up at her house anymore wearing my kilt. She feels that I look like a woman when viewed from behind. That bothers me, and I am still trying to decide how to handle the situation with granny. So, while in this situation I wish for my kilt wearing to be a non-event, I do enjoy to a certain extent that it does give my mother-in-law pause. I also like the compliments that I receive and am especially looking forward to my outings in my traditional kilt outfit.

Overall, wearing a kilt has been quite fun for me. Cannot say that about jeans, so I suppose what I am saying is that I hope kilt wearing doesn't become too much of a non-event <g>.

I suspect that there would be a greater stir and more comments if I wore a suit. Fairbanks is a that type of town...even the governor and our congressional delegates wear jeans and flannel shirts when they venture "north of the range"...wear a suit and people wonder who you are and what you are doing here..."must be the FBI".

I'll have to share that one. What a hoot; I really need to get to Alaska. Thanks for the morning laugh, AC!

Mychael

[Mychael Sporrano]

It really isn't difficult, but it is time consuming and requires patience. There are a couple websites that have instructions for making a kilt. If you can sew you can make one.

My wife has recently taken up sewing and I would LOVE to get her involved in making our kilts. Honestly, I would consider learning this myself but don't want to step on her toes. She has felt the need for some time for a good constructive hobby. Anyway, I could search for a good site for instructions, but can you recommend one that looks particularly well thought out, Bubba?

Mychael

[bubba]

Anyway, I could search for a good site for instructions, but can you recommend one that looks particularly well thought out, Bubba?

Mychael

Absolutely. http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/chegc/kiltsite/page2.htm . This is text instruction with a link at the bottom of the page to the diagrams.
http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html . This is another good one, pretty clear instructions.
www.folkwear.com has a great Scottish pattern set that has instructions for making a kilt and kilted skirt plus patterns for a Prince Charlie and vest as well as knitting instructions for Argyll hose and a ladies knitted vest. I have this set and it's very good.

[Mr. Kilt]

In a few weeks we are all attending the wedding of a family member who has specified casual dress is to be worn. Basically, it is a biker wedding, the type where a good bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon is considered an excellent choice of gift for both bride and groom. Mom-in-law asked me what I plan to wear... I ALWAYS wear a kilt, so to me it is a decision of WHICH kilt to wear. She is worried that the bikers will ridicule me and has suggested pants as an alternative. What she is worried about is being seen with me, I suspect, but she will deal with it just as she has dealt with introducing her long-haired son-in-law to her various friends over the years, usually with some qualifying comment such as, "But he is good to my daughter..." she sighs with resignation.
Mychael

My wife has become more accepting of my kilt wearing as each day passes. She still gets a little nervous when we go out in public together, but within a few minutes that nervousness goes away. Last night she expressed her concern over my wearing my kilt tomorrow at a BBQ we're throwing. My daughter is here for the weekend, and I'm going to meet her adopted mother for the first time. My wife thought that "mom" might not like the kilt. I told her that's her problem then, not mine. Accept me for who I am, not who she might want me to be.

Funny you should mention the biker wedding. Next weekend my wife and I are riding our bike up to a big rally. I plan on being kilted as much as possible while there, except while we're out on a ride. Most of the people who will be there I've never met in person, just on an online forum like this one. Should be a hoot!

[GMan]

Mychael,

I like you do not live for attention I always enjoyed not being an upfront kind of guy. I did however on occasion have to be "in the limelight", it bothered me to no end. So when kilt wearing became part of my life I even surprised myself that I became a kilt wearing center of attention type of guy, wow what a surprise. The confidence wearing a kilt brings is something that cannot be explained and you know what I mean, those non kilt wearers just don't get it. I find that being upfront is kind of fun, but I still feel that basically I am the same guy, more confident because of the kilt, and I still can be me, just happier. I love hearing things like cool threads dude when I am at the store, and that is happening more and more.

I am somewhat jealous of your hair, mine is thinning and changing gray, so if you want to share some of yours, just let me know

[richardljohnson]

Bubba -

I am astounded that you make your own kilts! It is absolutely fantastic that you have to abilty to make your own. If I tried, people would wonder why that guy was wearing a plaid sack.

It really isn't difficult, but it is time consuming and requires patience. There are a couple websites that have instructions for making a kilt. If you can sew you can make one.

Bubba, guestion...it takes me between 6 and 8 hours for a camo kilt. 6 or about a 6 yard and about 8 for a 8 yard. What's your time? I never really got around to asking anyone else.

RLJ-