It's funny how my mind works sometimes. I had seen posts on a hiking board about utilikilts and I sort of just brushed it off as some fad the hiking folks were into. It couldn't be anything real! It certainly wasn't anything I'd be interested in; canvas kilts, pockets, no sporran - that was blasphemy. Kilts were a couple of miles of thousand pound tartan from Scotland, cost a months salary, and are only worn for weddings, birthdays, highland games, Burns nights, Masonic installations, or for your mother, which was just fine for me because it was "Tradition".

The master-elect of my lodge instructed me that his installation would be kilted as well and he told me about USAK. A quick google later I happened into this corner of the Internet and was absolutely amazed at what I found. Folks not only talking about trad kilts, odd kilts made of "other stuff" but actually wearing them, daily, proudly, without reservation! Everyone seems cool with it! What is this place?! Who are these people?! Help me I'm falling!

I really had no idea that there was such a range of opinion and practice in the kilted world. I've had my tank for about fifteen years and I'd wear it appropriately to the occasion (what ever that means). Well folks you've let the cat out of the bag now. I'm going to start wearing it a lot more. I might even get a tartan that just looks good, because I like it, no other reason!
Actually, I'm working on a project as we speak. I'm trying my hand at making a canvas kilt out of (hold onto your hats folks) blue and white bed ticking; there I've said it, I feel better. As soon as I figure out the photo posting thing I'll put up some pics. It actually looks pretty nice. I have a whole bolt of this stuff and I've got all manner of things made from it. It will be my hiking kilt.

In all seriousness this is such a role reversal for me. I have found a whole bunch of great information and encouragement on this board and it has opened up a brand new mindset in kilting for me. My stuffy old trad friends will probably never speak to me again but they'll get over it.

Oh yeah, I probably ought to tell you that my tank is Hunting Fraser, I got it from Blink Bonnie in Moultonborough. It was on sale because the guy ordered it and never picked it up. It was somewhat serendipitous how I got it. I was researching family history and Scottish roots. My mother's maiden is Lovett and we followed that route. It seems that there was one Lovett a bunch of years ago who wasn't very nice and they took all his land away and gave to the Frasers. Fraser of Lovat was not real available but when I saw the Hunting Fraser on the rack for less than half price I figured that it was a sign. It was close enough for me. I ate Mac&Cheese for a long time but it was worth it.
Thanks for all your help,
Bob