Great kilt dimensions?

**JRB** · 11th June 07, 05:58 PM

On a side note, I have to say my belted plaid is the most comfortable garment I can think of. It's more comfortable than my tank or any pair of pants. I generally only wear it to ren faires but whenever I do I wish I didn't have to take it off. It's sort of feels like wearing a bathrobe but with more panache and less shiftless lay-about. I can understand why it was worn for so long in the highlands.

**Brian F** · 16th June 07, 06:02 PM

Well, I bought 6 yards of cotton. I know it's not tartan, but it's going to be a TON cooler than wool. And, one day, I'll get a real great kilt.

No pics yet...haven't taken the time to clear off my bed and strap it on. Once I do, I'll try and get some pictures up.

**Brian F** · 18th June 07, 04:11 PM

Got the thing strapped on today. it was HUGE. I think 6 yards was a little too much fabric...I felt more like a samurai than I did a ancient Scot.

Also, with the extra fabric above my waist...I can only pin so much to my shoulder. Do I just let the rest hang?

**MacWage** · 18th June 07, 04:29 PM

I thought someone had posted this before:
http://www.theweebsite.com/greatkilt/index.html

Roughly, the "correct" amount of material is 3 times your waist or rump (which ever is larger).

For me, it is 4 yards. One of my belted plaids is smaller and one is bigger, but 4 yards works out about right.

My personal warning is:
Don't use material that is TOO LIGHT (in weight/thinkness)!!!
(It would just look like you used a plaid bed sheet).

**Brian F** · 18th June 07, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by MacWage

My personal warning is:
Don't use material that is TOO LIGHT (in weight/thinkness)!!!
(It would just look like you used a plaid bed sheet).

The material I used is a cotton version of the Black Watch tartan. It's actually very nice...if I had a digital camera, I'd post some pictures of it.

The reason I got this is that it will mainly be used at Pioneer Life Week, an early America reenactment, at which us crazy kilted folk don our kilts...despite the lack of historical correctness. This means that 1) IT'S GONNA' BE HOT *middle of July* and 2) Not too many people will know the difference, unlike at a RenFaire.

Thanks for the info and the warning, though.

**mkmound** · 19th June 07, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by turpin

The Wild Highlanders were demonstrating the great kilt at Blairsville. . . . He says that width is needed, especially for tall folk, in order to be able to get maximum use of the kilt (wearing it 7 different ways). . . . .

OK . . . I'm curious . . . what are the 7 different ways?

**Knocko** · 19th June 07, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Yeti

This means that 1) IT'S GONNA' BE HOT *middle of July* and 2) Not too many people will know the difference, unlike at a RenFaire.

I wore my wool great kilt this past weekend at a local Ren Faire, it was about 92 degrees. It felt great, and I never got too hot. Proper wool should breathe well enough for you to be comfortable in warm weather, and hold heat in well enough during cold...

I love wearing my great kilt, and the Wallace Red always gets me noticed; Even at Ren Faires where there are lots of other kilted folk.

**Woodsheal** · 19th June 07, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Yeti

The reason I got this is that it will mainly be used at Pioneer Life Week, an early America reenactment, at which us crazy kilted folk don our kilts...despite the lack of historical correctness. This means that 1) IT'S GONNA' BE HOT *middle of July* and 2) Not too many people will know the difference, unlike at a RenFaire.

This is a bizarre mind-set! So, you'll be donning period garments within a historic context/setting (the American frontier) wherein they were NEVER worn (except by soldiers in Highland regiments), misleading the public spectators, and you're fine with that? You might as well dress as an Elf or a Klingon....