[QUOTE=Colin]We also have and have always had kilted regiments. I do not believe (correct me if I am wrong here) that the US has any kilted regiments. Were their kilted regiments in the US in the past?

The thrift store idea sounds like a decent one if you know your way around a sewing machine. I would think it would be hard to find actually tartans though. Have you had any difficulty with that?[/QUOTE

Yes, I do find actual tartans! So far I have found Forbes, Black Watch & Royal Stewart (the most typical; easy to find), Nova Scotia, Graham of Montrose, Black Watch Dress, and the one I am presently working on: Ancient Buchanan.
Surprisingly the Buchanan skirt was very heavy wool (maybe 16 or 17 oz?) and made for a very VERY large woman. When I took it apart I discovered that several inches had been hemmed under so when the skirt was taken apart I had enough to cut the fabric in half and stich it together for a total of 8 yards!