I learned from three different sources. My late grandmother apprenticed at Kinloch Anderson and taught me everything she knew. (No one else in my family seemed interested in learning!) I adapted some of her methods over the years, partly because I am left-handed (although I can sew right-handed) and partly because some techniques work for some people and some don't. I then bought Barb and Elsie's book a few years ago and further adapted my technique.

I made kilts professionally for a company that recently closed their local shop down and have considerably scaled back operations. I do know that they used two other kiltmakers besides me, but I don't know who they were. I had to submit a kilt pleated to the sett and another pleated to the stripe as well as photos detailing the process. Both were 8-yard knife pleated kilts. (Don't worry, I got them back after!) They didn't seem terribly concerned with experience, just the end result. I can tell you the pay wasn't all that great, but the work was fairly regular. I an still toying with the idea of doing it freelance over the internet, but haven't finalized the details yet.

As for the Keith Kilt School, I believe it is now referred to as the Moray Textile Group (or School?) and their affiliated guild is called the Traditional Kilt Makers' Guild. http://www.traditionalkiltmakersguild.co.uk/They DO accept members who are not graduates (as associate members). One must submit photos of their product by email or snail mail. Their standard are pretty typical of a well-made kilt. The membership fee is £15 and you receive a newsletter, and labels to affix to your kilts.