Torn Between Two Tartans

[Cygnus]

Thank you, everyone, for your feedback - it is greatly appreciated! I think I may have let my bias toward the more expensive option show, but the Swan is certainly the one I prefer. Part of the appeal to me is the royal blue colour, so I don't think I'd go with an "ancient" version.

I suggest Lochcarron's Holyrood Gold in their heirloom colours. It's a beautiful tartan and on my long list if I ever get all the kilts on my short list. I hope Buckskin will not mind me reposting his picture.

I do like the Holyrood Golden Jubilee, but it seems that particular tartan is nearly as expensive as the Swan (in which case the Swan wins out).

Of course there is always the option of having one of each...

And in that case I would go with the Swan first.

After twisting my arm, you've convinced me - eventually I think I'll get a four- or five-yard kilt in the Holyrood tartan for more casual events. Like I said, though, it will be quite some time.

Unless someone comes in and convinces me otherwise, I'm saving my pennies for a Swan tartan eight-yard kilt and a few accessories.

Thanks again, and keep your thoughts coming!

[piperdbh]

Unless someone comes in and convinces me otherwise, I'm saving my pennies for a Swan tartan eight-yard kilt and a few accessories. Thanks again, and keep your thoughts coming!

Alright, here's another thought. What if you got a box-pleated kilt, which only uses around 4 yards of fabric? That would bring the price down a little, and you'd have something truly unique.

[Cygnus]

Yes, now I remember. It’s a Mary Macgregor song.

Torn between two tartans, feelin' like a fool
Lovin' both of them is breakin' all the rules

No, it was the Oak Ridge Boys:

Torn between two tartans
Is like a ball and chain.
Tryin' to choose between 'em
Is drivin' me insane!
One has pretty colors,
The other's got my name.
It's a long, hard grind
And it tires my mind.

Ha!

Sums up about how I feel!

Alright, here's another thought. What if you got a box-pleated kilt, which only uses around 4 yards of fabric? That would bring the price down a little, and you'd have something truly unique.

That is something that I'm considering, though a number of the places I'm looking at have a minimum length for custom-weave jobs; those that don't tend to be a bit on the pricier side and for 30%-40% more, I could get an 8-yard kilt from another reputable kilt maker (the two I'm comparing weigh in at about $500 for the four yard and $630 for the eight). That's double the kilt for not much more...

...though this has gone a bit beyond the bounds of mere tartan selection.

Hopefully I'll have decided a course of action once my pennies add up a bit more.

Thank you!