A box on the Doorstep

[SteveB]

Yes it is from Rocky!



The decision time, first a nice large cup of tea (off to the right in the photo), now do I open the box or work on my practice chanter? BTW, my tutor lurks on the board and knows my screen name). Turns on the metronome and does the timed gracenote scales and throws. Then the box gets opened...... and out comes a set of flashes in the MacNeil of Barra Ancient tartan with the sett and twill in perfect alignment. Thus ends a very long jones.



I ordered this kilt on 12 November 2008 when Rocky was having a sale on Premier Kilts in surplus tartans. MacNeil of barra Ancient was not among the sale tartans...bummer. I have been planning for a kilt in my tartan for a long time and decided to pull the trigger, and ordered the kilt at full price. Rocky then emailed a nice deal to me. USA Kilts is in the process of launching a new line of Hand Sewn in Scotland Wool Kilts, and would I like one at a discount, if I reviewed it for him, much the same has already been posted by Rex Tremende on another thread. Rocky used one kiltmaker for Rex and another for me.
The logistics of setting up this would take time, and I was not in a hurry for the kilt. This has been a rather light weight jones, as I expected some time for the new process to work. Quality is well worth the wait. From the box sprang a MacNeil of Barra Ancient kilt.



This is indeed a lifetime kilt. It is fully hand sewn.



The basting stitches are still in. I found it interesting that the kiltmaker basted the pleats in groups of 8 or so pleats on all three rows. There are 28 pleats across the backside.

More to come................

[Rex_Tremende]

USA Kilts is in the process of launching a new line of Hand Sewn in Scotland Wool Kilts, and would I like one at a discount, if I reviewed it for him, much the same has already been posted by Rex Tremade on another thread. Rocky used one kiltmaker for Rex and another for me.
The logistics of setting up this would take time, and I was not in a hurry for the kilt. This has been a rather light weight jones, as I expected some time for the new process to work. Quality is well worth the wait. From the box sprang a MacNeil of Barra Ancient kilt.

Is that the case? You scamp! I thought you were holding out on me - but it turns out you were just on hold. I knew that you had a kilt on order under similar circumstances. I thought for sure yours would come first, so I kept waiting for you to announce something.

Well, I can't wait for the rest of the review.

Regards,
Rex.

[SteveB]

The kilt has two sporran strap loops in the rear. They are practically invisible.



The kilt comes with two ribbon loops, which work well to hang the kilt from a peg, temporarily, if needed. The buckles are mounted to the interfacing, with the tartan aligned quite well. The lower buckle appears in the photo to be out of alignment while the kilt is not on me, but falls into alignment as soon as the straps are buckled around me. The straps are a nice satin finish, and are supple as well as heavy duty. The finish on the buckles is smooth and polished. The horizontal alignment of the tartan across the pleats is absolutely perfect.



Please notice that the tartan matches as does the twill on all three buckles. There are four double stitched rows holding the buckles to the interfacing.



The under apron strap is shown here. It has two rows of stitches holing it to the interfacing. Although more than adequate to do the job, my other tanks have an "X" stitched between the rows. The satin tone of the strap works well with this tartan.



The outer apron straps are entered neatly through the tartan to the interfacing. The front apron "hangs" on the interfacing very smoothly.



The alignment of the fringe with tartan on the outer apron is clean and neat the whole length.

More to come.............