Newbie Post and some Q's

[Roan Carter]

I've worn a Sport Kilt and a Stillwater Standard in Chicago before. The Sport Kilt is entirely too lightweight for city wear, when the wind flies around street corners like mad. Stillwater Standards are okay, but I still recommend a sporran just to keep your front down for sure.

I have not ordered from the Frugal Corner, but I can say I have read that their service is sometimes great and sometimes not. Be prepared to wait a while on a kilt from them.

Also, military kilts from What Price Glory are nicely priced and come in 24" length.

[McMathTX]

Welcome from Fort Worth! I'll be watching this thread with interest because I'm wondering many of the same things as you.
Dean

[inkrat]

Traditional kilts do start at about the bottom rib height and as your kilt was not made for you you may have had to move it up a wee tad to make the bottom edge,hang no lower than the centre of your knee cap.It would be even better if the bottom edge was to hang at the top of the knee cap.

Finding tartan above 16oz maybe 18oz is not easy,so as a general rule 16oz is regarded as the heavy weight tartan these days.Wool is my view is quite the best fabric for the kilt. If I were you, for your next kilt, go for a 16oz wool cloth,it will help with the Chicago wind problem too.

Fortunately, even though the kilt was off the rack, the one I have now fits well. I've even had people ask me if it was tailor made. So yes, it begins at just below the ribs and ends right on the middle of the kneecap. 26" total length, pants belt/waist to mid knee is 22.5". My big issue is knowing the waist, some seem to measure by last hole in the buckles, some measure by first hole. I ran a tape around my pants inside the belt loops, 35" loose, 33" snug. I wear 32"'s, or so the lying pants industry wants me to believe. ;) Hopefully I should be okay with a 34"

I guess my big question is, would 16oz still be a bit too heavy/warm for spring/summer wearing? I know the one I have certainly is and it's an 18. Next step down would be a 13 and I only seem to find those in acrylic, which is a shame, because I really like wool myself.

Welcome to Xmarks. First of all, "Right below the ribs" is about right for a regimental kilt, as long as the length at the knee is right (anywhere from mid knee to the top of the knee) Secondly, the standard weight Stillwater kilts are fine. The economy is a little light, but for wear around the house, it is fine. I don't have a Stillwater Thrifty yet, so I can't comment on those. My one USA is a semi traditional, so I don't know a lot about the casual model, but others who have them really like them. Stillwaters are "off the rack kilts", and I believe the sizes are measured at the tightest hole in the strap. USA kilts (even the casuals) are custom made to your measurements, and Rocky is great to deal with. I would recommend calling him for measurement instructions if you order one. Since you were looking at Pittsburgh Kilts. try Steve Ashton at Freedom Kilts. He doesn't do the two tone kilts (of course he might do a special order if you ask him), and he has a great "Kilt Measuring " video on his website. All of Steve"s kilts are also custom made.

My biggest concern with custom made at this moment is being able to get the size right, video or not. Was thinking it might be a good idea to start with off the rack due to a more friendly exchange policy until I'm sure and then get myself another that's custom made.

I've worn a Sport Kilt and a Stillwater Standard in Chicago before. The Sport Kilt is entirely too lightweight for city wear, when the wind flies around street corners like mad. Stillwater Standards are okay, but I still recommend a sporran just to keep your front down for sure.

Standards are acrylic, are they any more or less desirable than all-wool? Unfortunately Stillwater doesn't offer much to say on the weights of the Standards versus the Heavyweights. This was where I wanted to ask you guys what you thought of them personally since a few of you probably are familiar with the regimental fitting and weights.

Oh, and I annoyed my roommate into handing over the camera with the images he took of me when I was getting ready to head out for St Pat's. (He was afraid I'd try to delete the images. Heh.)

I'm not fond of 'em but at least you can see how high this one goes.

http://ergh.org/photos/self/mekilt1.jpg
http://ergh.org/photos/self/mekilt2.jpg

New Zealand regimental, for those wondering. Variation of the Black Watch pattern.

Thanks for the warm welcomes and tolerance of my newbie questions. ;)

[McMurdo]

I guess my big question is, would 16oz still be a bit too heavy/warm for spring/summer wearing? I know the one I have certainly is and it's an 18. Next step down would be a 13 and I only seem to find those in acrylic, which is a shame, because I really like wool myself.



My biggest concern with custom made at this moment is being able to get the size right, video or not. Was thinking it might be a good idea to start with off the rack due to a more friendly exchange policy until I'm sure and then get myself another that's custom made.



Standards are acrylic, are they any more or less desirable than all-wool? Unfortunately Stillwater doesn't offer much to say on the weights of the Standards versus the Heavyweights. This was where I wanted to ask you guys what you thought of them personally since a few of you probably are familiar with the regimental fitting and weights.

Oh, and I annoyed my roommate into handing over the camera with the images he took of me when I was getting ready to head out for St Pat's. (He was afraid I'd try to delete the images. Heh.)

I'm not fond of 'em but at least you can see how high this one goes.

http://ergh.org/photos/self/mekilt1.jpg
http://ergh.org/photos/self/mekilt2.jpg

New Zealand regimental, for those wondering. Variation of the Black Watch pattern.

Thanks for the warm welcomes and tolerance of my newbie questions. ;)

inkrat

You can find wool in 13 oz that should not be a problem, as for being to warm in 16 oz wool, I think that a depends on the person, and the weather. I have been able to wear my 16 oz wool kilts year round with little discomfort from the elements either way, and to tell you the truth 16 oz wool hangs better than 13 oz wool IMHO. The fact that you live in Chicago also makes me think you should go for 16 oz wool, as it will stay down far better than a lesser weight.

As for measurement of the kilt, I recently purchased a 16 oz 8 yard kilt from Barb Tewksburry I followed her measuring instructions and it fits like a glove, here is a link to my review, the real trick is finding a kilt maker whose work you admire, and trusting them to do the job correctly, if there is a problem with the sizing I don't know of any kilt maker that would not fix it.

Nice work on the sleeve BTW.

[James MacMillan]

First off - from Sunny Southern California, just outside the back gate of Camp Pendleton!

In your situation and location I would recommend a PV kilt from USA Kilts.

[Coinneach]

And from both southern US coasts.

Since you want the kilt to essentially be treated like a pair of jeans, I guess I'd consider how much I'd be willing to pay for jeans and use that as a guideline when looking at kilts.

I have 2 SWK standards and like the feel of the weight. I'm not around the kind of wind you might have whipping around the buildings in Chicago, so I'm not sure how they'd do. When I have been in a breeze I've usually found the wind might lift one side, keep the other side down, and expose nothing more than thigh.

[Mr. bone]

Welcome inkrat from another newbie! and might I say, Nice ink!