kilt hem finish?

[Javahaggis]

Hi,
I just bought my 1st kilt. Went for the best quality (I thought) - the 16 oz pure wool in my family tartan.
It arrived today and I have a problem - I just don't think it is good enough quality. I doubt that it is the 16 oz for a start, (something I Shall query) and when you hold the hem up to the light there are little holes (like machine stitch holes) all around. Is this common? I have hired many kilts in my day, and I've certainly never noticed this?
I am about to email the company to complain and ask for my money back but I just wondered if this was a problem anyone else has had?
Cheers,
Javahaggis

[cessna152towser]

I may stand to be corrected on this but it appears to me unusual to have a hem on a 16oz kilt. Both of my heavyweights are selvedged and I only have hems on my lightweight kilts.

[Paul Henry]

some kilts do have hems, there is nothing very odd about that, and there might be small machine type holes , that doesn't mean that it would be of poor quality. It is hard sometimes to judge the weight of cloth, and being realistic the term 16oz is a bit of a catch all...it could be anything from about 14oz upwards.

[Javahaggis]

Sorry no - I just meant bottom edge really - there is no hem.
It's scottish made, but I assume this is a machine that has left these holes.
javahaggis

[Paul Henry]

it could also be the tenter hook marks, usually they disappear , but if it is a brand new kilt, there might still be evidence of them,if anything that would be the sign of a good weave!

[Javahaggis]

Thanks Paul - didn't know that these holes could disappear. My wife is totally not convinced though - she says the cutting isn't straight at the bottom, the stitching isn't finished off well, and for some reason at one edge they have put a little hem on the bottom and it looks uneven (sorry hard to explain what I mean) - anyway will still be querying it. I was fitted in the edinburgh shop and asked for the heavy weight 16 oz. May be I'm just a typical Scot and want my money's worth which incidentally was nearly £300.
Javahaggis

[Paul Henry]

£300 sounds about the right sort of price, well not unexpected at least!
but if you are not happy talk to the kilt makers and I;m sure that any decent one would want to sort it out and make you happier.
the little hem at the bottom might be a small curved one, just for a few inches, is used so that the under apron doesn't show below the front apron ( if that was the little bit you meant)

[ronstew]

Where are you, Javahaggis? Maybe you are in the neighborhood of somebody knowledgeable who can have a look at it for you.

[Javahaggis]

Boy - you know your kilts.
Yes it is a little curved hem, and at the left side pleat underneath the front apron. I'll explain that one to the wife!
Thanks for all your advice.
Will hopefully talk to the company tomorrow about the kilt weight query, and other doubts. I just didn't want to jump in with lot of complaints and show my ignorance about kilts (which I probably have done here!).
Javahaggis.

[Javahaggis]

Ron. I am in scotland. As I said before I have hired many kilts and just never noticed this on them before. I wanted to get the best I could, and I knew I would have to pay for it, but was just a little perturbed by these elements on it that I noticed. Over critical probably!
Might see if I can compare this relations kilts - not sure what they have weight or otherwise though.
Javahaggis.