determining a fabrics weight...

[Barb T]

I'm just guessing here, but "suit weight" is probably more on the order of 6-8 oz/yard. If you feel just the fabric of a nicely-made suit, it's really pretty light. Now, we're not talking Harris Tweed here, more Saville Row. If someone said that they had tartan in "suit weight", I would give it a miss for a kilt. Even 10 oz tartan (which some people use for kilting) is too light weight for a nice kilt (wrinkles easily, doesn't have the oomph that I like to see in a trad kilt).

The other issue is fabric "hand". The brushed canvas that Steve uses in Freedom kilts has the same weight as some of the kilting tartans I use, but it has a very different "hand". It's stiffer, and someone who has worn one of Steve's kilts or a UK would find a trad kilt to have a different feel because the fabrics are very different (which is where, I think, KCW's comment about his PK feeling more "solid" comes from). A trad kilt would likely weigh more but it would feel less stiff. Not bad, just different.

Cheers,

Barb

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Barb, you got it! I don't have a tank yet, but I do have a heavy weight kilt in some kind of blend that is probably 13-14oz. It and my PK weigh about the same, but the tartan is much softer/supple. I love both, just different fabrics and characteristics.

[UmAnOnion]

I'm just guessing here, but "suit weight" is probably more on the order of 6-8 oz/yard. If you feel just the fabric of a nicely-made suit, it's really pretty light. Now, we're not talking Harris Tweed here, more Saville Row. If someone said that they had tartan in "suit weight", I would give it a miss for a kilt. Even 10 oz tartan (which some people use for kilting) is too light weight for a nice kilt (wrinkles easily, doesn't have the oomph that I like to see in a trad kilt).

The other issue is fabric "hand". The brushed canvas that Steve uses in Freedom kilts has the same weight as some of the kilting tartans I use, but it has a very different "hand". It's stiffer, and someone who has worn one of Steve's kilts or a UK would find a trad kilt to have a different feel because the fabrics are very different (which is where, I think, KCW's comment about his PK feeling more "solid" comes from). A trad kilt would likely weigh more but it would feel less stiff. Not bad, just different.

Cheers,

Barb

Barb, you are an endless supply of great information & advice....

thanks for that info - the first trad kilt i recently finished is definately suit weight fabric - and feels a little light - will save that for occasional summer wear when there is no breeze...

I am still working on my recent 'blackwatch-ish" fabric that i bought last weekend . Its on the lighter side ofthe scale but shoudl finish up nicely. with any luck NYC will get a long overdue snowstorm tonight which will give me a good reason to stay in tomorrow & stitch to my hearts content :grin: