weight for Canadian tartans

[CMcG]

Over on the Canadian tartans thread, Gordon from Kirbright & Fraser of Vancouver, B.C. contributed the following post:

sorry for coming late to this topic.
we weave all the provincial tartans in 100% wool with the exception of Ontario, as this is a restricted tartan copyrighted by Scottish Imports of Hamilton.
though some are currently only available in 10 oz weight, we are in the process of weaving them all in 12 oz (which is quite suitable for most Canadian climates year round)

Gordon Kirkbright
Fraser & Kirkbright Weaving Company Ltd
www.wooltartan.com

I'd like to poll the rabble on suitable weight for kilts, specifically in the context of a Canadian climate a.k.a. The Great White North. I don't want to bias the results of the survey but I suspect I know what the answer will be. I'm hoping that the weavers will take note!

You may select as many answers as you feel are valid.

[Manitoban Keith]

12 oz i find too cold in winter, 16oz is much better for the cold. i dont find it too warm either so i wear 16oz in the summer too. my first kilt was 11-12 oz, did not like it at all, 16 oz or bust.

[auld argonian]

I have to ask...just how much time do any of us spend outside in frigid weather that we have to be that concerned about having these heavyweight kilts?

I don't know about you guys but I may be going back and forth to the commuter train and thence walking about ten minutes or so between stops downtown...maybe I get feeling all kilty and manly and go out and shovel snow in my kilts. It's not like I'm running the Iditarod in my kilt or anything...just going about my usual business and most of that is spent indoors. Is it really worth worrying about the difference between 12/13 oz versus 16 oz based on the possibility that you're going to be out in the cold for the time it takes to get from the front door to the car?

Obviously, the hearty types that decide to go kilted snowshoeing or whatever are excused but then they're the ones buying those 18/22 oz military kilts that go up to their armpits and could shelter an extended family of eskimos in case a raging blizzard blows up during the seal hunt.

I have one kilt in 13 oz and one in 16 and the difference seems pretty minimal to me. Certainly the 16 oz Strome is nice stuff but so is the 13 oz Strathmore. And if it's that cold...maybe you can commit sacrilege and actually wear something underneath....I've heard that you will not get struck down by a lightning bolt thrown down from the heavens by Big Hairy Aengus, the god of kiltliness, if you wear something under your kilt.

Best

AA

[Dixiecat]

I voted for the mid-weight. As a dancer I think that the 10oz weights are a little thin. While fit properly kilts made from the light-weight are quite nice and swingy, the mid-weight just feels more substantial. Hard to explain, sorry.

[xman]

I have to ask...just how much time do any of us spend outside in frigid weather that we have to be that concerned about having these heavyweight kilts?

Semper Paratus

For general use, I'm getting a PV casual for summer and will look to a 16oz traditional for winter wear. I feel there's room for a medium weight in the shoulder seasons, but one or the other should do for most occasions. Today for example is windy and cool so I'd be wearing 16oz if I had the choice. I wouldn't want to be wearing it on a humid July day in Toronto though.

I am, as yet, unkilted so this is just MH2¢

[Macman]

I don't find much difference between 13 and 16 oz., and I'm happy with them both for year around wear here off the west coast. I wear lighter and heavier, but this is my happy medium ground.

[ForresterModern]

Most of the canadian tartans are made by F&K in their merino worsted wool, which has a lighter feel per weight than standard UK worsteds. I have a 16oz Maple Leaf and it does not weight the same as similar 16oz 8yd kilts from other vendors. Their tartans have a softer hand and less clean finish to them. Unfortunately most of their tartans only come in 10 or 12 oz, but occasionally they will do a run in 16 oz, and if you get lucky you can get some of that. Alternatively they will do custom runs in 16, but my understanding is that it requires a 30meter double width commitment from the buyer.

Some other mills do make regular worsted tartan in a very few canadian tartans, particularly the Maple Leaf, in various weights.

[Old Hippie]

Not sure where my Maple Leaf was woven -- Steve'd know -- but it's 16 oz. Merino. Lovely in all weathers and hangs beautifully.

After wearing it, I wouldn't really like anything lighter.

:ootd:

[Spc. Scott]

My Maple Leaf was woven by F&K in 16oz merino and I really do like it. Just amazingly soft and easy to wear. I should have some Strome to compare it to in a few months. But to the point I can wear both 13 and 16 oz here in NY year-round with little problems. I do have a WPG repo. in 18 or 22 oz (not really sure which) that get pulled out when during the coldest days and I really like that for hiking in the snow and cold.

[ForresterModern]

Not sure where my Maple Leaf was woven -- Steve'd know -- but it's 16 oz. Merino. Lovely in all weathers and hangs beautifully.

After wearing it, I wouldn't really like anything lighter.

:ootd:

If it is Merino and Steve put it together it is almost certainly F&K. About 15 months ago they had a big bolt of the stuff in 16oz that they were clearing out for 25CDN per meter, so there was a mad dash to get some before it was all gone, and a lot of people were unhappy about missing out on the deal. So Steve, I believe, propositioned Gordon (that sounds dirty, sorry) to do another special run of another length and steve made a number of kilts for folks from it. You either got some of the first stuff or second run from Steve, I bet.

Beautiful fabric, soft, vibrant colors, very comfortable, but it does feel a smidge lighter than my several other 16oz-ers. Could not imagine what it would feel like in 12 oz.

jeff