Where to start with a kilt?

[Mike M.]

Right now, I'm figuring on either Scotweb or USA Kilts.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Here's my thought on that:

Both ScotWeb and USA Kilts are members here, and advertisers here, which already says something about the quality of their products and their customer service, as well as their involvement in the kilt community. However, what they're selling is slightly different.

ScotWeb is located in Scotland. They'll sell you a fantastic kilt, hand sewn in Scotland of Scottish wool woven on Scottish looms and shorn from Scottish sheep. There can be no argument that it's a Scottish garment, that it's quality, and it's a potential heirloom.

USA Kilts has the advantage of being in, well, the USA, and being closer to you. They'll make your kilt of wool if you like, and it may be Scottish wool, but it'll be sewn in America, and it will be at least partially machine sewn. I don't have a problem with that, but some people do. The big advantage for you, here, is that it's much easier to actually go to the shop, get measured by and talk to the actual kilt maker. And that's something that's of great value.

Either one, however, will be a good choice for a special wear summer weight kilt.

[Mael Coluim]

I live in Maryland, so it can get pretty hot. I'm mostly interested in having something for the various Celtic Festivals in this area.

Ditto Riverkilt's advice.

[dfmacliam]

I am a man of substance and the best advice I received was from the site owner... buy the best material possible.. I have my kilts in 16oz, only difference is.. since I live in Texas, which I would presume to be a bit warmer climate.. I opted for the 4 yd box pleat..which the yardage is not an exact number but an estimate... Depending on your measurements, and the size sett, accounts for the amount of fabric used.

[McMurdo]

From Toronto Ontario

You've come to the right place for advice on the kilt. I'd say get the best kilt you can afford, having said that, if it were me I'd go for a 16oz. 8 yard kilt. My reasoning is that 16oz will not be that much hotter than 13oz, and as has been said before in this thread the 8 yard kilt will look superior to a 5 yard kilt. The other consideration is the differing formality of the various events you will be going to. A 16oz 8 yard kilt always fits the event, if you do go for the 16oz 8 yard it can work from a Highland Games to a Burns Night. For a good example of the versatility of such a kilt take a look at this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/1...888/index.html

[ForresterModern]

Substantial Man here as well. I have kilts in 5yd 16 oz wool, and 8-9 yard kilts in 12 oz PV, 13 oz wool, and 16 oz wool. Without a doubt my favorites are teh 8-9 yard 16 oz wool tanks, followed closely by the 13 oz wool tanks. Although the 16 oz 5yd is nice looking it just is not as substantial and form fitting as the other wool kilts. I like the PV kilts least simply because they are my only "off the rack" kilts and IMHO more casual and less well fitting than any of the others. I agree with McMurdo that if you can afford it, an 8 yard 16oz wool kilt will suit you for just about any situation and conditions, unless as others have said you are planning on participating heavily in the athletics parts of highland games while wearing it. Some also buy PV or other casual kilts for bar-beaters---to wear out partying without concern over possibly trashing a quality custom kilt.

Any way you go, pictures posted here are a must once you get it. Otherwise it didn't happen (first rule of xmarks).

Jeff

[Pleater]

I make my own kilts, and where I have the option I go for longer lengths so as to have more and deeper pleats, just for the swing and the luxury of it.

I do still have a shorter yardage kilt, which I only wear in the very hottest days of Summer, which is usually about one week of the year.

All the rest are 7 or 8 yards, but in various weights and different materials.

You need to consider the amount of wind you will be experiencing, and if you will be wearing anything over your kilt to stop it flying, or under it to preserve your modesty.

With my lightest cotton kilts I wear a long plaid which can be deployed to control pleats in a mischievious breeze, a 16 oz wool is unlikely to take flight - but a kilt made of 8 yards of 16 oz wool will weigh in at about 4 pounds so it is a serious garment to be wearing in any degree of heat.

I suspect that I would only be able to wear 16oz wool during one half of any year, but I do feel the heat here - on the South coast of England close to sea level, after being raised in the North in the foothills of the Pennines.

If you feel that you have to have a 16oz fabric then it might be wise to go for a box pleated kilt, so as to have around 2 or 2 and 1/2 pounds weight of wool etc. strapped around you.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[fluter]

Welcome, Mike M.

McMurdo's advice is the best you can get in a few words: best kilt you can afford.

My impression is that you're after a traditional look, and that the 8-yard-class, wool kilt is probably what will suit your taste the best. Others have mentioned the USAK semi-trad, which is also a fine-looking kilt (I have 3).

The available fabric weight may be determined by your choice of tartan.

Most of us would say that an 8-yard will feel about the same in 13- or 16-ounce fabric; however that depends on your personal thermostat. I wear wool kilt hose nearly year-round in South Carolina; but some folks can't bear any long hose when the heat and humidity get serious.

If you suffer in the heat, and your tartan is available in the Marton Mills PV used by USAK, you may want to consider the semi-trad as a first choice. In wool a 4 yard box pleat is well thought of. I'm making my first 4-yard, so I can't speak from experience.

It's hard to go wrong with either USAK or ScotWeb. Some of the offerings are all hand-made, some are all or partly machine-sewn. If the kilt is made to measure for you, it should fit well in any of those scenarios. Since USAK is in the Philly area, you may just want to establish a personal relationship with your kiltmaker, as Ron suggests.