In search of the perfect work kilt

[Southern Breeze]

Great pics and thoughts on work kilts. I'll be trying out some canvas kilts in addition to my Stillwaters this summer.

[Nick]

Well, for one aspect of my work, all cotton or some other natural fiber is a must. I'd hate for the thing to burst into flame! Also, a bit longer to cover the knee, and cargo pockets for tools. My UK Workmans fits the bill fairly well, though it isn't as long as it should be (hits the top of the knee perfectly.)

[Colin]

Wow, I never thought I would see the day where Graham "oh, so many tartans to choose from" Hodges was wearing not one, but 3 solid colour work kilts.......and one with cargo pockets no less.

[GMan]

Great pictures as usual Graham! I am glad that you have expanded from just being traditional.

I find that I agree with you as to what type of environment that your tasks find you in dictates the type of Kilt you wear. I have worn a solid black Kilt to a business meeting, so I could wear a tartan tie that I have, so the avenues of Kilt wearing are endless.

[646guy]

Have you thought abotu getting the Workman's Utilikilt with the straps to hang tools on?

[Graham]

Have you thought abotu getting the Workman's Utilikilt with the straps to hang tools on?

(and to colin) yes, I never thought I would do it either, but it is very practical, and what can I say? it's kilt addiction - just hafta try everything!

btw it's not a UK, it's from RKilts (in case Robert gets upset)

[NewKilt]

Great pics and thoughts on work kilts. I'll be trying out some canvas kilts in addition to my Stillwaters this summer.

I have a couple of Buzz Kidders. They are 10 oz Army duck canvas - not work kilts, but seem to have the qualities that Graham was listing. I've worn them in 80 F temperatures as well as 30 F. They are cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold. Pleats stay down very well in a relatively strong breeze, and they feel like they will wear like iron. Pleats will wrinkle though after sitting - canvas does that, but I sure like them. They also feel very comfortable to the skin on the inside. It seems like this might be an ideal material for a work kilt.

Darrell

[Freedomlover]

Graham, I'd be interested to know if the bottom of your denim kilt tends to turn (or fold) up. I've got a painters model UK, made of material that is basically denim, that has rolled it's edges since it came out of the box.

[Graham]

Graham, I'd be interested to know if the bottom of your denim kilt tends to turn (or fold) up. I've got a painters model UK, made of material that is basically denim, that has rolled it's edges since it came out of the box.

Yes, the pleats don't behave very well, I know they will never be perfect like wool kilts, I don't expect that. It's actually improving with more washing and wearing.

[Pleater]

I'd be intersted to hear if anyone has experience of a hemp or hemp mixture kilt.

The true canvas (hemp=canabis sativas) was/is very hard wearing and I have been told that it used to be mixed with linen to reduce the creasing in wear of the cloth.

Linen is an absolute nightmare for creasing as it is worn.

Now that hemp fibre is becoming easier to source, here in the UK at least, there is hemp knitting yarn, so I hope to be able to get hold of true canvas (not just a heavy cotton cloth) but that will probably not be for some time.

It is a very superior cloth, and was used throughout Europe for shirts. There are tales of American soldiers destroying hemp plants as they went through Europe in WWII oblivious to its use for clothing - plants grown outside have very little drug content. There were different grades of plant carefully selected to provide different qualities of fibre, some for very fine clothing, some for ropes and others for weaving working cloth such as sails and bale covering and the base for carpets.

I believe it has always been grown under licence and used for banknote paper here, and it is a less ecologically demanding crop than cotton, requiring less fertiliser, pesticide and water, with the additional advantage - to us, that it can be grown in the UK.