Regimental Blackwatch Kilts

[Steve Ashton]

This is interesting. What happens with the existing kilts when a change is made like that?

Another thing, do the kilts have the "ketchup & mustard" pleating in the back? If so, it's new to me to think of a "pleated to the stripe" kilt as having a rear center-line. The apparent lack of such is why it behooves pipe bands to have their kilts pleated to the stripe, because the buckles can be moved to fit various people over the years without the glaring problem of uncentered rear portions that happens when you move the buckles on a kilt pleated to the sett.

Yes, the Can Scots wear the Hunting Stewart pleated to alternating yellow and red stripes commonly called Catsup and Mustard. But when we make the kilt we are making it to a given size so we do center one stripe. And yes, in practice the center rear does sometimes end up moved.

I can't speak for the really old kilts but the most recent change sent the out of date kilt down to the cadet corps. This results in the teenagers in the corps wearing a different kilt than the reserve unit.

[HGMIVL]

Wonderful to see these Black Watch military kilts! When I first started out piping, my piping instructor loaned me his old Gordon Highlanders kilt (dated 1937) which, of course, was pleated to the stripe and was made of at least 22oz. wool. It was a real horse blanket and hot as Hades' front door during those hot Texas summers, but it never developed wrinkles and always looked terrific. Awesome kilt.