Am I on the Right Track for Kiltmaking?

[Alan H]

If I implied in my post that there's only one right way to make a kilt, then I apologize. I thought that I had made it clear that I was only talking about trad kilts - that's the only kind that's even discussed in my book.

Barb, you have never broadcast that opinion! No worries!

Nonetheless, lets take the buckle closure on the left side for example. The way Elsie teaches it, you cut the slit just so, finish off the edges, mount the buckle on a tartan strap and so on. That's how you describe it in the book. A whole, whole lot of kilts are built that way. It's a good way of solving the issue of how to fasten the kilt on the left side.

But Matt and now Lady Chrystel (and me) build the left side closure completely differently, with no slit cut in the fell at all. Both methods work. It's my opinion that one way is not "right" and one is "wrong". I think those are just two ways to solve a particular problem, or issue with making and wearing a kilt. Matt and the Scottish Tartan museum have in their collection, kilts closed with ribbons, buttons and even pins. Historically, it was sometimes done this way. I have made kilts with straps on the right and buttons on the inside, left side. Is that "wrong"?

Another example..... in the Art of Kiltmaking you write a lot about reinforcement with tailors canvas. However, there are other things out there which aren't tailors canvas which solve the problem in much the same way. You describe Elsie's method of making a waistband. Well, that way is a very good way, indeed. I, however, often reinforce my waistband with a folded-over layer of stout canvas, so that the canvas takes the load of the waistband tension rather than the stitched tailors canvas and tartan.

Is it WRONG to reinforce the waistband in this manner? Does the fact that I do so, mean that what I've made is not a kilt, or not a traditional kilt because I didn't follow the directions in the Art of Kiltmaking, exactly?

Well I don't think so, and I bet you don't think so either, Barb! It's not a traditional kilt built Elsie's way, but who says that Elsie's way is the ONLY way?

Another example...the Art of Kiltmaking describes how to fringe the right hand edge of the over-apron. I also fringe the right hand edge of the over aprons on most of my kilts. But in direct contrast to that, I point to the regimental kilts previously worn by the Black Watch and Seaforth Highlanders. Those regimental kilts did not have fringed aprons. So......is anyone going to suggest that what those soldiers wore is not a proper and correct kilt? I rather doubt it.

Anyway, I think some people are of the opinion that a kilt can only be made ONE way, and anything else is WRONG. Because of your skill in both writing and making kilts, and because of the general fantastic-ness of the Art of Kiltmaking, I would guess that "Elsie's Way" has become a defacto standard in many peoples minds...and I disagree with that, and caution against it. Mind you, I have a copy of the Art of Kiltmaking, I practically absorbed it by osmosis when I build my first two or three mostly traditional, mostly hand-sewn kilts, and I love the book and recommend it without question or hesitation.



Just my opinion.