Yikes! What a speedy thread this one is....

To the point, there are ways to afford a hand sewn kilt....a "tank"

Each person's finances are their own business. Credit cards are one option. Charge the hand sewn kilt and pay it off month by month - IF YOU CHOOSE...personal choice.

Deal direct with your kiltmaker. Ordering through a middleman just ups the price and isolates you from the kiltmaker...a breeding ground for errors and misunderstandings we occasionally read about on this board.

One of the reasons I have had Kathy Lare sew up ten of my hand sewn kilts is to be able to afford hand sewn kilts. Kathy has this "two payment plan" deal. I pay her half the estimated kilt price in advance. She uses those funds to obtain the wool tartan I want - she does all the research for free and brings back mill and weight options for me to select from.

While the material is being ordered in, and while I am waiting my turn for my kilt to be sewn up, I am saving money for the final payment which is not due until the kilt is completed. Wait times depend on who else is ordering from her - but it gives me another six weeks or more to gather the final payment.

Since both Kathy and I live in the US there is no customs fee worry. She took the time to go to the Keith Kilt School in Scotland so I have a kilt that was hand sewn in the traditional Scottish manner without having to order from Scotland. And, of course the final shipping cost is much less.

I've posted her kilt prices before and you can see them on her website. Her kilt prices are much lower than some of the numbers flying around on this thread. Take a look www.kathyskilts.com.

A lot of the "expensive" talk is a bad rap - even without considering the VALUE of a hand sewn kilt made from fine wool fabric. Again, the money saving secret is deal direct with your kiltmaker.

I've spoken of Kathy Lare's kilts here because she is my kiltmaker. Each kiltmaker has different policies...but many of the basic savings AND overestimating of costs would apply to other kiltmakers you read about on this board - and those you don't, there are many fine kiltmakers out there - Google is your friend.

The way to afford a hand sewn kilt is to do your research, get the true costs, figure out the best way to pay for it based on your own financial situation, the presenting financial options, and your chosen kiltmaker's offers.

IT IS MUCH EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

Ain't my place to say so, but I have an opinion anyway. Every kiltie should endeavor to own at least one hand sewn kilt.

But dang...talk about fueling the addiction...the first hand sewn kilt sinks the hook deep.

Ron