Selvedge fuzz

[billsides]

I commented because out of three quite new kilts of different origins, two soon developed very obvious fuzz lines marring otherwise magnificent kilts. Yes the inside and outside are similar. The bottom 5/8" of the affected kilts has threads woven back in so is thicker giving a slightly different look that is accentuated by the fuzz line. It is a whole band of tartan and the fuzz from woven in thread ends is along the edge of the band so it could look worse. I am not being picky, it is obvious at a distance. My newest kilt has the RSCDS tartan, so cannot be old stock material yet has no obvious thickness change or fuzz line, nor do my other kilts. Even a cheap plain black PV one with fully sewn hem has no visible hem line! I am sure other clothing would be returned if made so. Shaving may help but fuzz will surely re-appear and the doubly woven bottom band will always be a bit different. My other kilts, be they old, new or very cheap, have no thickened areas, fuzz lines or fabric changes proving these problems are not necessary.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

As was stated all the problems stem from the high speed looms now employed by many of the tartan mills to weave their stock cloth if you have the cash order every kilt custom woven by Dalgliesh and you'll not have to worry about fuzz.

If not, buckle down and get out a shaver or find a custom kiltmaker who can hem every kilt you want made.

[figheadair]

What we have here is a modern, cheaper way of weaving cloth and then doing a 'fix' to stop it unravelling. Technically speaking this practice does not give a selvedge. See more here - http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/Tra...e_patterns.pdf

IMHO it's a far inferior cloth but one that we will see more and more of and I suspect one day the only way to get a true selvedge on a piece of tartan will be to have it hand woven. And so the wheel turns full circle although the cost will probably make if too expensive for most people's taste.

[RockyR]

House of Edgar recently invested a LARGE sum of money in a loom which weaves single width cloth with a true selvedge edge (on one edge which is all you need for kiltmaking). I'm quite sure that proper kilting selvedges will not go the way of the dinosaur.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

House of Edgar recently invested a LARGE sum of money in a loom which weaves single width cloth with a true selvedge edge (on one edge which is all you need for kiltmaking). I'm quite sure that proper kilting selvedges will not go the way of the dinosaur.

Not just one loom, Rocky, but many looms. They began life as the same kind of rapier looms which most mills use these days, but HoE had them specifically modified so that they could continue to produce kilt cloth with a traditional closed selvage. It was something that was very important to them - and if anyone purchases a kilt that is made by HoE kiltmakers they will notice a swing-tag on the kilt which specifically mentions the traditional selvage.

[English Bloke]

... anyone [who] purchases a kilt that is made by HoE kiltmakers they will notice a swing-tag on the kilt which specifically mentions the traditional selvage.

And I'll bet it doesn't look like this...

[auld argonian]

Selvedge fuzz = kilt police?

Best

AA