Kilt Newbie

[starbkjrus]

And welcome from our Nation's Cesspool...er....Capitol.

You've found the right place.

[davecolorado72]

THanks everyone for the "welcomes". I think I definately did fing the right place to get plugged in.

Ok, first question...what is a "tartan"?

[Livingston]

See that blue and white background on the page? That's the XMarks Tartan. Basically, tartan is a fabric that has a pattern of lines of various colors. Those colors would be in the same order both vertially and horizontally on the fabric. Imagine the pattern you see on the side of this page both vertical as shown and the same thing horizontal.

[GMan]

Don't be afraid to ask. We are all really learning as we go. Of course some have more knowledge than others, but that is good.

[pbpersson]

....and different tartans can mean different things. For instance, the tartan I chose for my avatar is the official tartan of the nation of Sweden. I'm half Swedish so I'm hoping that will be my first "official" tartan when I have one custom-made next year.

When you look at kilts online you will see they are available in some "standard" tartans that are most popular.

[Scottish Chi]

Welcome from Northeast Florida.

Cheers! Bill

[davecolorado72]

So now I am in the position of trying to decide what my first kilt should look like....How did you all decide? There are so many patterns/styles I don't know where to begin. I see also that there are family tartans and I don't want to wear someone else's tartan.....

Any suggestions?

[Rex_Tremende]

Maybe start with your budget?

As someone who's working his way up from easily affordable casual/contemporary to "tank", I'd say if you can afford it, go for a traditional, made-to-measure, 16-oz wool tartan kilt in some generic tartan (such as Braveheart, or the like) as your first. This may also cause you to want to buy all the other accessories at the same time, so you need to factor that in.

Other considerations include how often you want to wear it, and how you want to care for it.

I've been going about it the other way - starting with UKs and progressively getting more serious about style, quality, and personal value. This has also enabled me to buy more kilts early, and accessories as I feel I need them, learning more as I go. As of today, I have nine kilts of varying quality (knockabout to excellent), but I've probably spent enough now for two or three tanks.

Try stating your requirements (not necessarily here, I mean), and see what solutions fit.

Regards,
Rex, still in Project Manager Mode

[Frank McGrath]

Just hang around here. Not only will you get all your questions answered, but your friends will soon be asking questions about you. And we all will pray that your significant other is an understanding person. Welcome From Maryland!

[SingleBarrelBourbon]

Hi Y'all,

I'm Don. Just joined a few minutes ago. If you couldn't tell, I'm a Southerner (USA that is).

I am a former submariner with ancestors from Kindeace, Clan Donnachaidh.

My lovely wife's grandmother was from Scotland. Now I just have to convince her that I should be wearing kilts. She plans on getting me a Nightstalker from SWK for my birthday. We'll see. If she can put up with me, I will be purchasing a kilt in Polaris tartan, one in Robertson Hunting, and one in Red Rob. Maybe after the first one or two I can get her to start making them for me, she's a great seamstress and tailor.