The Holy mantra of 8 yard tank, 8 yard tank

[Southern Breeze]

When I first started learning about kilts I thought that an 8 yard kilt contained that much tartan. Now I look at the term "8 yard kilt"to be the description of a full traditional kilt.

[Jerry]

I have an 8 yard kilt in the ancient Macneil of barra tartan on order through Matt at the Tartans museum. With the sett and my size, it's going to be clost to 9 yards of heavyweight wool. While I was there, I showed Matt my casual kilt in the Macneil modern tartan. He was very interested in the fact that my kilt had a Galeic Themes label in it. He explained that when the tartans museum had talked with Galeic Themes about making 4 yard casual kilts, the representative with whom he was talking said, "Sir, we are not interested in making ladies skirts." Here is a pic of one of thew box pleated kilts from the museum. It's not the one mentioned above, but rather one from the mid 19th century.

[Hachiman]

Alan H., that's a fine looking kilt!

As an aside, can someone please explain to this complete noob what a "tank" is? I mean, I get it that its a "proper" full-length (based on one's hip/waist measurements) kilt, but is "tank" an acronym or nickname? How did the term "tank" come about?

cheers

Hachiman

[michael steinrok]

When I first started learning about kilts I thought that an 8 yard kilt contained that much tartan. Now I look at the term "8 yard kilt"to be the description of a full traditional kilt.

That is my impression as well. I got to admit though I don't want to pay for 8 yards if I'm not gonna get it.

[Caradoc]

How did the term "tank" come about?

Try a look here.

[Scottish Chi]

The term "8 yard kilt" is a common description for a "traditional kilt" on many websites that sell kilts. It is because of this that I was under the impression that it was actually constructed from eight yards of material. It wasn't until I found X Marks the Scot that I began my education. You all have my gratitude for your help. Although I doubt that I may ever sew my own kilt I just sent a check today for Barb's book so I can become more familiar with kilt construction. This forum and Barb's book is the cheapest tuition I have ever paid for an education.

Cheers! Bill

[Hachiman]

Try a look here.

Thanks Caradoc! I can relax now that I know! ;)

cheers

Hachiman

[Caradoc]

Thanks Caradoc! I can relax now that I know!

No worries - it wasn't in the FAQ when I asked about it, and was added shortly thereafter.

That'd be why I knew it was in there.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Alan...

Your posts most certainly havn't fallen on deaf ears. I was concerned enough, considering the cash I've laid out, to actually measure two of my "8 yard" kilts.

Kilt #1.

Henderson ancient colors, waist measurement 38", 16oz wool, 8.25" sett:
-actual length at the selvedge = 22'-9"
-23 pleats @ 9/16" reveal
-average pleat depth = approx. 4-1/2" (concealed depth)
-no double pleating
--------------------
This kilt is 7.58 yards

Kilt #2.

McApline modern, waist measurement 40", 13oz wool, 6" sett:
-actual length at the selvedge = 23'-2"
-34 pleats @ 5/8" reveal
-average pleat depth = 3" (concealed depth)
-no double pleating
-------------------
This kilt is 7.72 yards

Both of these kilt have substantial "heft" and nice swing.
I feel I've received everything I've paid for and more. I'm a happy camper.

I've read Barbs book so I quite appreciate where you're coming from with this. Still, I'm happy that the kiltmakers I've used have figured out how to magically cram the un-necessary mass of fabric into my (very close to) 8 yarders.

blu

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I addressed just this topic in an article in The Scottish Banner a year ago last February. Archived here:
http://kilts.albanach.org/yardage.html

And as an aside, that lovely honey-brown Harris tweed kilt and jacket photo from the museum, above, is not really a mid-nineteenth century kilt. It's a modern kilt, but made in the earlier box pleated style. Just so there's no confusion!

We do have a few vintage kilts in the museum from c. 1800 to 1850, though.

M