Want to buy husband his first kilt- Help!11

**Jock Scot** · 11th March 08, 12:09 AM

Welcome,from a stormy Inverness-shire.You have been given good advice in the threads above.The one thing I would add is this.Don't get too wound up about how old a tartan is,they were all new once and many are not as old as you might think.The Welsh tartan may be only,perhaps,30 years old.So what?The most important thing is to get the tartan that your husband will be happy to wear and with a bit of luck it will be one that you really like too.Good luck to you both and have fun.

**Roan Carter** · 11th March 08, 07:40 AM

Hot weather kilt for a welshman? Try the casual Welsh kilt from this site.
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Kilts/welsh_kilts.html
I've dealt with these people before and they are friendly and fair. Also, I have found that Welsh tartans are exceptionally handsome. If his family name is not offered here, there are a few universal welsh tartans that he may enjoy. A green and red one comes to mind.

**Coinneach** · 11th March 08, 08:04 AM

from both southern US coasts!

If you've been to Highland Games, you may already have spoken with one or two of the wonderful kiltmakers who participate on this board. It sounds like most of your other events are inside. Since you've mentioned this is a big investment, you might want to consider the "big investment" kilt for the indoors events, and a less expensive kilt for outdoor events.

Honestly, your ever-so-lucky husband is going to want/need more than one kilt, don't you think? It's really the best way to keep him in his place.

**davedove** · 11th March 08, 08:12 AM

If you decide to go with a Welsh tartan, or even if you don't, Alexis Malcolm is a US kiltmaker that does a wonderful job.

http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.bigstep.com/homepage.html

**Finn** · 11th March 08, 08:21 AM

Welcome from West Virginia!
Have fun with the research & meeting all the great folks here!

**cavscout** · 11th March 08, 08:27 AM

I have no better advise to give so I'll just say...

Welcome to the neighborhood

**McFarkus** · 11th March 08, 09:00 AM

from Chicago.

My brother live in Georgia and he swears by his Matt Newsome box pleat wool kilt. It's very comfortable in hot weather - has fewer layers than a 'standard' knife pleat kilt, AND, according to Matt, is really the more ancient form of the kilt.

**elitekiltedcommando** · 11th March 08, 09:20 AM

Welcome from Wisconsin!

Can always make him an ever-fashionable duct tape kilt.

(Im still working on mine, actually)

**turpin** · 11th March 08, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by McFarkus

from Chicago.

My brother live in Georgia and he swears by his Matt Newsome box pleat wool kilt. It's very comfortable in hot weather - has fewer layers than a 'standard' knife pleat kilt, AND, according to Matt, is really the more ancient form of the kilt.

What the Evil Twin said. But I do also have a 13-oz 7 yard by Kiltstore that is very nice in warm Georgia weather, an 18-oz 4 yard box pleat that is also fine, three 16-oz 8-yarders by Barb Tewksbury (incomparable workmanship), and an 18-oz 8-yard military box pleat kilt under construction. I expect to wear them all in any weather (Don't forget Georgia does have 2 1/2 seasons besided summer).

The primary source of heat and sweat will be at the waistband and there isn't be much, if any difference there in heat retention between the light and heavyweight wools, but there is a difference in feel and comfort between the 4 (+/-) yard box pleated kilt and the 8 (+/-)yard knife pleated kilt. The 5+/- yard knife pleat that is typical of the casual kilt is a compromise I haven't looked into yet.

BTW, don't get hung up on 4 yards versus 5 or 8 versus 9. For a made-to-measure kilt, a kiltmaker uses just enough material to make a kilt to your husbands individual measurements. And if you choose to go made-to-measure, do make your move relatively soon if you want the kilt for events this summer. 8 weeks lead time is pretty typical, and Matt Newsome is in such demand that his lead time is 4-5 months. there is even a thread here somewhere about that (Matt Newsome Jonesing list).

And - Welcome to X-marks. I hope you and your husband join us for a nite of Great SEKS. (Great South-Eastern Kilt Society). You can get first-hand Q&A at one of our gatherings. Kilts not required for inquirers.

**starbkjrus** · 11th March 08, 10:17 AM

from Northern Virginia!

You have gotten some great advice here but I'm going to repeat one piece you have already gotten more than once. You're in Georgia - take a day and drive up to Franklin NC and visit the Scottish Tartans Musem http://www.scottishtartans.org and chat with Matt Newsome. (XMarks member name M.A.C.Newsome) Matt is a tartan scholar, historian, kiltmaker AND the curator of the museum.

If you and your husband are like I was you want to see and touch and feel in person for the first kilt. You are lucky to have such a resource so close by.

You can also see Matt's personal website here: www.albanach.org

Good luck to you.