Why hand-sewn?

[macwilkin]

So the major difference is not "real", per se, but mostly perception? Why is it more satisfying to have a kilt made from a "certified Scottish kilt maker" than any other tailor? Is it more satisfying to have a pair of blue-jeans that are made in America than those made in Canada or China? Overall, wouldn't the quality of a machine stitched garment be superior, or at least more uniform than that of something done by a person?

This is just me, but it would seem that it all boils down to "bragging rights"...

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course. So what if it is "perception", "bragging rights", etc? If that makes a particular kilt special to someone, then that's great, particularly if the kilt symbolises their family heritage. Horses for courses and all that.

Personally, I like knowing that my kilt was made by someone who was trained and certified in Scotland, since the kilt has its origins there. But that won't stop me from ordering a kilt from someone who has a good reputation for making kilts and is not certified in Scotland either. My kilt is special to me for family heritage, it is not a pair of Jeans, so I want it to be special in every way. If that's "bragging rights", then so be it.

My hand-sewn is of far-better quality then the two machine-sewn kilts I owned from J. Higgins, btw. Yes, that machine-sewn kilt may be more "uniform", but it's only as good as the person running that machine, and I would much rather have the knowledge of someone who has been trained and schooled by someone who knows the craft.

Regards,

Todd

[GTRMAN]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course. So what if it is "perception", "bragging rights", etc? If that makes a particular kilt special to someone, then that's great, particularly if the kilt symbolises their family heritage. Horses for courses and all that.

Personally, I like knowing that my kilt was made by someone who was trained and certified in Scotland, since the kilt has its origins there. But that won't stop me from ordering a kilt from someone who has a good reputation for making kilts and is not certified in Scotland either. My kilt is special to me for family heritage, it is not a pair of Jeans, so I want it to be special in every way. If that's "bragging rights", then so be it.

My hand-sewn is of far-better quality then the two machine-sewn kilts I owned from J. Higgins, btw. Yes, that machine-sewn kilt may be more "uniform", but it's only as good as the person running that machine, and I would much rather have the knowledge of someone who has been trained and schooled by someone who knows the craft.

Regards,

Todd

Not trying to offend anyone here.. Just trying to undestand the phenomenon..

You all talk about the the invisibility of the thread and the fell, etc.. How many people are actually looking for these things? Are those really PRACTICAL considerations?

[Riverkilt]

In the seeing comes the understanding.

Go to ANY highland games and just look....

Or, if you can "swing" it, just wear one in your size, preferably tailored to your body.

I made the brave leap to my first hand sewn a couple years ago...now I own six. Not for bragging rights...just because I love them so!

Check out the hand sewns in my gallery and Ham's gallery and any other pics.

Like everything else there are varying degrees of quality to meet a person's needs and wants.

Be careful though...hand sewn traditional kilts are the most addictive of all kilts.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Not trying to offend anyone here.. Just trying to undestand the phenomenon..

You all talk about the the invisibility of the thread and the fell, etc.. How many people are actually looking for these things? Are those really PRACTICAL considerations?

I heard a similar arguement in Civil War reenacting from those who were known in the hobby as "farbs" -- my fellow reenactors will recognize the term, for those who are not reenactors, it is slang for someone who doesn't care about authenticty and "doing it right". Now, I'm not saying you are a "farb" because you made a similar statement -- just using an example here. No offence meant or intended.

Folks who criticized those of us who wanted to be as authentic as possible usually would say, "how many people actually care that your uniform is authentic?" or something similar. Yes, there are probably very few out there who actually do -- but it wasn't about them, it was the fact that Iwould know if I was being historically incorrect. The park service trained me to be as authentic as possible so the public could have a quality living history presentation, whether they knew everything that went into that program, uniform, etc. was another matter.

So, to me, the "peace of mind" that I have a quality-made garment is practical -- my frugal Scots grandmother would say the same thing. Notice I didn't say that the quality was only from Scotland, though.

Regards,

Todd

[GTRMAN]

I heard a similar arguement in Civil War reenacting from those who were known in the hobby as "farbs" -- my fellow reenactors will recognize the term, for those who are not reenactors, it is slang for someone who doesn't care about authenticty and "doing it right". Now, I'm not saying you are a "farb" because you made a similar statement -- just using an example here. No offence meant or intended.

Folks who criticized those of us who wanted to be as authentic as possible usually would say, "how many people actually care that your uniform is authentic?" or something similar. Yes, there are probably very few out there who actually do -- but it wasn't about them, it was the fact that Iwould know if I was being historically incorrect. The park service trained me to be as authentic as possible so the public could have a quality living history presentation, whether they knew everything that went into that program, uniform, etc. was another matter.

So, to me, the "peace of mind" that I have a quality-made garment is practical -- my frugal Scots grandmother would say the same thing. Notice I didn't say that the quality was only from Scotland, though.

Regards,

Todd

That seems great for someone who wants to "recreate" something or wants somethingfor dress or show.. But what about your average Joe(such as myself) who wear kilts for comfort only. Those of us who wear kilts for what they are..a garment.. rather than something for dressing fancy..

Personally, I despise dressing up. Never liked it, never will. I dress for comfort and practicality only.. I don't take things like tearing or staining my clothes into consideration when I put them on.. I certainly do not like the idea of having to take my clothes to a dry-cleaner. Does it make sense to pay so much more for something that you'll probably just destroy?


Like I said, I'm not trying to instigate you all.. Just trying to understand.

[macwilkin]

I think you just answered your own question -- if you're not concerned about it, then why worry about it if others place value on it? You say you're trying to understand why: I think several of us have given you good reasons why, so now it's up to you. If you still don't understand, then perhaps it is time to say "different horses for courses" and move on.

But what about your average Joe(such as myself) who wear kilts for comfort only. Those of us who wear kilts for what they are..a garment.. rather than something for dressing fancy..

Quite frankly, this attitude bothers me at times, that those who view kilts only as "garments" or for "comfort only" are "better" than those of us who wear it for special occasions like Burns Suppers, Scottish functions, etc. Now, we are on an Internet board, and one cannot "hear" the tone in which something is said, so we're riding the whirlwind, so to speak -- but I don't see myself as better than a "casual" kilt-wearer because I like to "dress fancy". If I have misunderstood you, my apologies.

btw, I'm an "average joe" myself, but I like to "dress up". I also wear my kilt for programs and talks about Scottish and Scottish-American history that I give to schools, community groups, organizations, etc. I like to be comfortable as well, but there are times in life where one should pay the proper respect -- again, that is my personal philosphy, and expect no one to live by it. I do not wear a kilt full-time or in "ordinary" circumstances, so the chances of "destroying" my kilt are less than those who do.

Regards,

Todd

[Kilted KT]

I have both hand-sewn and machine sewn. with the Exception of my O'Neille, the rest of my machine sewn kilts are "jeans", meaning they get the tar beat out of them. being machine sewn, I'm not worried about the stitching, as I can just run it under a machine again and *POOF* it is fixed.

My hand-sewns and O'Neille, that is a different story. Those are for "show", when I am going out in public. I think they look a little better, but mostly I love telling people who ask "Yeah, someone in scotland sewed this up with a needle, by hand. all 30-odd feet of it" and watching their eyes get real big in disbelief. then I hit them with the price, and they usually just drop their jaw and compiment me on how great the kilt looks.

[Colin]

I have a handsewn traditional, and 2 machine sewn Bear kilts. So while they are completely different products, I prefer the handsewn kilt.

However, kilts to me are a tradition and a art form. So if all you want out of a kilt is comfort, than no a handsewn is not always worth the extra cost for you. There are plenty of kiltmakers that offer a reduced cost for machine sewn kilts. To the naked eye, these will work every bit as good, but to people (like members of this forum) you might see a bit of a difference.

As I said before, if it doesn't make a huge difference to you, than yes go for the machine sewn it will very likely be a great garment.

[pdcorlis]

Usually handsewn kilts include construction techniques not found in machine sewn kilts. These techniques stabilize the kilt and make it more durable through time. For example, instead of relying on the sewn pleat (waist to fell) to provide the fit and structural strength, internal hand sewn heavy canvas panels and steeking provide internal structure and support. This puts much less stress on the sewn pleats and more strength in the kilt. Other touches to the reverse pleat, deep pleat, and underapron add a level of finish only available through hand sewing. A hand sewn kilt could be passed down and worn through several generations.

I own both hand and machine sewn kilts - I love them all. They're all well made and represent good value for money - but nothing swings, fits, or lasts like a handsewn eight yard kilt.

[Mike1]

Are those really PRACTICAL considerations?

The honest answer to this question is that they do not sound practical to you.

Is it practical to pay the extra money for a business-class seat on a flight, when coach is so much cheaper?

Is it practical to drive anything other than a Kia, with vehicle (and fuel) prices the way they are?

Is it practical to eat an expensive steak dinner, when peanut butter and jelly can fill your empty stomach?

Do you see the similarities?

If you can justify the practicality of any personal purchase decision, then you have made the right choice.