Evolutionary progress

[Kid Cossack]

Has this happened to anyone else? I started off with an original Utilikilt, in olive drab. I wasn't sure if the whole "kilt thing" was for me. What would people say? How would I feel? Would it feel like I was, forgive me, wearing a skirt? I supplemented the UK with a Sportkilt and a couple of Mockers (from UK).

Then . . . then I took the plunge, and ordered a digital MARPAT forest kilt from Pittsburgh Kilts. (That was, as they say, when things got serious.)

The PK led to me ordering a USAK casual. I'll be honest---initially, I thought, "Why this isn't that great!" Little did I know, eh? The USAK casual (Farquharson) is probably my most worn kilt. I got a cigarette burn on the apron at a bar one night, so now I wear it around the house, mostly.

From the USAK I started dabbling in the Stillwater line. I tried out a hunting McLeod, liked it, got a Irish National economy (currently being torn down to make a uber-primitive box pleated kilt) and then tried the heavyweight weathered Lamont.

I liked them, but I could tell the difference in fit between the USAK casual and the SWKs . . . so I called Rocky Roeger and said, "Fix me up, if'n you'd be so kind, with a Ramsay blue semi-traditional . . ." and so he did.

Then I got the itch for a box pleated kilt. It's an itch I've still got---a kilt from Matt Newsome does NOTHING to turn you away from kilts. Charcoal grey Ettrick tweed, and very fine indeed.

Now I've got a USMC Leatherneck tartan on order from USAK, five yards, thirteen ounces. My first real worsted tartan custom kilt.

The way things are going, I'll end up an old fogey traditionalist! I started out easy, with the off the peggers, of non-wool material, and I have noticed myself sliding further and further to the "traditional standard" as I go along. Now, Houston still gets hot enough, and muggy enough, that I probably won't make it a daily practice to wear an eight yard kilt of sixteen ounce wool . . . but I'm a darn sight closer to that than I ever thought I'd be.

I've experimented, I've found that I just LIKE wearing a kilt, that it feels good, that people are generally intrigued, that those folks who don't like the kilt can, in Brother Dread's phrase, go sit on a thistle.

This is FUN!

[Splash_4]

Oh No! Is this what I have to look forward to?

[Kid Cossack]

It's not a half bad ride, at that, Splash-4! (Oh, and the Marines in the hall? They'll just keep right on singing . . . )

[pipebear333]

Oh No! Is this what I have to look forward to?

I was thinking the same thing.

[Splash_4]

It's not a half bad ride, at that, Splash-4! (Oh, and the Marines in the hall? They'll just keep right on singing . . . )

What the funny part is that I spent some time on the phone yesterday with the kilt store on a question that had on a kilt I have on order. The gentleman on the phone asked how many kilts I currently had. I told him this was to be my first hand made (I have two more on order from Matt) and he said that this was just the start of the addiction and he would be more than glad to assist in furthering it, just to think of him as my dealer!

As for the Marines singing, it wouldn't be so bad, but we can't get them in tune.

[Dreadbelly]

I can just hear those Marines singing... Sounds like one of those holiday tunes were dogs are barking Jingle Bells.

[Fearnest]

As for the Marines singing, it wouldn't be so bad, but we can't get them in tune.

I can just hear those Marines singing... Sounds like one of those holiday tunes were dogs are barking Jingle Bells.

Just so long as they continue to mark their targets and shoot straight when needed, I don't care if they sound like a can of cats being tossed down the mountain...


And yes, this is much the same "(de?)evolutionary path" I've followed... so much for the "intelligent design" theory of kilting!

[RK-REX]

I got my USAK casual less than a month ago (first kilt) and just picked up a new casual in the for sale section that should be here in a few days. I'm starting my collection slow. Much like a 12 step program. I don't know when I'll transition to the trads and semi trads and the like, but for now the casuals fit me just fine. I'm more of a jeans and t shirt type guy anyway, so they are perfect for me. So I guess I'm not evolving yet. You could say however, that I'm expanding the gene pool that is my closet.

[starbkjrus]

Oh No! Is this what I have to look forward to?

I was thinking the same thing.

Bwuuuuuuuuhhhhhhaaahaahaaahahahahaaa.

Thats exactly it. My family has always been proud of its Scots heritage but kilts were for weddings and pipe bands. Then one day two years ago I ran across Utilikits at a festival downtown. Well, I thought about it for a while then ordered one. (In the meantime I found this board.)

Then I found Pittsburgh Kilts and had a custom job done (Pineapples and Palm trees on it) and a Sportkilt in the Hot Lava "tartan". These two were for a cruise we were going on.

Then Matt Newsome happend to mention he was getting a custom run of the Carolina tartan (I'm from South Carolina) done at DC Dalgleish & Sons so I had to call him and ask him to increase his order for enough for a Box Pleat for me. Then there was Ireland's National from USAK for my Mother's side of the family...ummmm the XMarks tartan was so nice...the Irish American from scottishkilts.net was such a good price...the Queen of the South football club tartan ex-hire fit so well and I needed a kilt for the first night at Ferintosh after British Airways left my luggage in London...well then I've wanted a Maple Leaf tartan kilt for a long time (my Partner is Canadian) and here MacHummell is practically brainwashing us so he can get a run done....and now Rocky has come up with that beautiful saffron in his new "solids" range.

Yep, I'd say that's about right.

Hmmmm. I think I need to get a kilt rider on my homeowners insurance policy.

[Kid Cossack]

I got my USAK casual less than a month ago (first kilt) and just picked up a new casual in the for sale section that should be here in a few days. I'm starting my collection slow. Much like a 12 step program. I don't know when I'll transition to the trads and semi trads and the like, but for now the casuals fit me just fine. I'm more of a jeans and t shirt type guy anyway, so they are perfect for me. So I guess I'm not evolving yet. You could say however, that I'm expanding the gene pool that is my closet.

Starting off with a USAK is DEFINITELY a good place to start! What's your position, by the way? The good wife played scrum half for nine years for the TsSK of the Army fo the Republic of Kazakhstan.