Will 54" wide work for great kilt?

[RedBeard]

Will 54" wide tartan work for a great kilt? I have a 36" waste and I am 6'1".

[Nick the DSM]

it might but i really have no idea. maybe someone here thats your size can help.

[Bugbear]

Ya, it probably will be fine. If that's what you have, then don't worry about it. BTW, good luck.

[davedove]

It all depends on how long a piece you have. The 54" is double width cloth, which would be the same as the historical two pices of single width cloth sewn together.

You have a 36" waist. That means you need one yard of cloth just to get around your waist. You need more for the overlapping aprons and even more to allow for pleats. Someone will have to give you that estimate though.

[Madadh]

What you need to do is, with help, measure from the back of your knees to your shoulder. The width will go up your back and over your shoulder. 54" should work ok, you may not have much to drape over your shoulder.

[Bugbear]

I think most people get about four yards of the double wide. Just don't try using nine yards.

[fluter]

The width is OK, but you won't be able to make a hood with the top part of the plaid.
For length, anywhere from 4 to 5 yards should be sufficient.

I'm a shade under 6'0" and I have a similar width in Celtic Croft's "homespun" blend.

[Pleater]

I have a piece of tartan cloth - Modern Morrison, which is 54 in by 4 yards, and having fussed about with it, the only thing I can see that might be a problem would be that you could be resticted in how you arrange the upper part - it depends on your proportions.

Depending on how you want to fold it, and to some extent the size of the pattern if you want to fold it to a line in the repeat, you might possibly need bore than 4 yards, but if you intend to pleat it up fairly randomly and not very large pleats then 4 yards should do.

I have some tartan like cloth that is 60 inches wide, and if you can find something suitable you might like to consider getting a piece to try out. The 60 inch wide material tends to be wool blends, and not have a kilting selvage, but it might be a good idea if you can pick up some 60 inch wide fabric cheaply to try it out first. You are more likely to find a cheap 60 inch fabric than a 54 inch one, at least you would be here in the UK.

Another alternative is to use an old sheet and cut it to size - it will not be the 4 yards but it will give you an idea of how much of you the 54 inches will cover.

[Bugbear]

And don't forget that the original belted plaids were also worn higher on the thigh with the leine or shirt actually hanging down passed the bottem of the plaid. That would have given a great deal more to work with on the top end.

I still wouldn't worry about it if that's the width you have or all you can get.

* Note to Ranald: I thank Matt had a painting posted at his web site of this style of wearing the belted plad higher than the shirt. However, I should not have said the "original" belted plaids because I don't think we really know much at all about those. Sorry about the goof up.
Matthew A. C. Newsome's web site I think it was a painting of an example of a solid color belted plaid.*

[thescot]

54" might be a bit tight on the upper portion. You'll want to be able to pull it up in back and drape it over your left shoulder. I am 6' - 3", and my great kilt is wider and none too wide.

You might want to go to a material place--like Walmart--and buy about 5 yards of 54" cheap stuff at $1.00/yard and try it one just to see if 54" will work. It would be worth $5.00 to know before you pop for wool.

Good luck.