Kilt Pins

[Galician]

Since this thread has become active again, I'd like to question Ham's advice on leaving the pin attached. I have heard that doing so can cause the fabric to sag in that area, causing a different kind of damage. Any thoughts?

[jmercier]

It depends on how heavy the kilt pin is. I've got a heavy one which I wouldnt want to leave on a nice kilt for too long between uses. Also /how/ you pin your kilt can affect it. I've found that the pins with the really sharp points tend to be more damaging because you end up splitting the threads in the weave, whereas the ones which are rounded a bit more push the threads aside, and the 'holes' will seal back up when the pin is removed.

That being said, I'm going to be making quite a few kilt pins from the tines on a half rack of antlers which I picked up for making knife handles, that way I'll have a decent pin for most of my kilts.

[ardchoille]

It depends on how heavy the kilt pin is. I've got a heavy one which I wouldnt want to leave on a nice kilt for too long between uses. Also /how/ you pin your kilt can affect it. I've found that the pins with the really sharp points tend to be more damaging because you end up splitting the threads in the weave, whereas the ones which are rounded a bit more push the threads aside, and the 'holes' will seal back up when the pin is removed.

I've found this to be the case as well. When I receive a kilt pin with a sharp point, I usually file it down to a more rounded point and then buff it so that it is smooth - so as to not snag the material.

[Howard Clark]

I found the suggestion on this site a while back for rare earth magnets and a ferrous metal decoration. Requires no pin through the cloth at all. Balancing the magnet strength and the mass of the decoration is important, and I suggest using a ferrous metal backing plate behind the magnets on the inside. I found myself stuck to the metal folding chair at a Presbytery meeting a few weeks back because I hadn't thought of that. No problem, but a minor irritation.

[gilmore]

And probably worth an absolute fortune, Bubba!! It's been many a long year since I saw an opal-centred crodd - especially a filigree one! The only other crodd I have ever seen is in The Tower of London forming part of our nation's Crown Jewels!!!!!!!!!

What's a crodd?

[Gary Krueger]

I have two kilt pins. One is the "Dirk style" that is it looks like a dirk in its sheath with a large jeweled top, and inset flat gemstone types on its body. It was a gift from a young student my wife was mentoring in elementary school in a program called "lunch buddies" the purpose was to provide additional encouragement for the child to work hard in school. They became good friends during the 3 years the student had left in the elementary level and she gave my wife this pin as a parting gift. The current cost of those pins are well over $100.00 we made sure her mom knew of the gift.

The other pin is a Ross Clan Crest sword. Bought for the purpose of not having to move the kilt pin from kilt to kilt. The result of the last move was that the pin became dislogged and was lost at a wedding I piped at. My wife and I didn't notice it missing until we were on the way home and stopped at gas station to fill the tank. The good light made it easy to spot its absence. I went back to the reception area and searched. One of my friends said he had seen it and put it on a table. Of course, it wasn't there when we went to look. I was totally bummed.... and as I walked dejectedly out of the hall I came across a group of folks smoking under a awning. For some reason I just asked, "Has anyone seen a jeweled pin that looks like a sword in its sheath?" A woman looked at me, smiled and said, "One like this?" That was it. whew.... She was going to give it to the bridegroom since he was Scottish and may know to whom it belonged.

I give her the benefit of the doubt on that one.