Best non-wool casuals?

**Riverkilt** · 13th August 08, 09:28 PM

Way back when I did a comparison too...may not even be accessible.

My basic comparison is I've owned 3 SportKilts and 22 USA Kilts.

Have trouble getting past the "pajama-like" look of the SportKilt cotton/poly...course its nice for hiking regimental...softer...that's about it. Always be certain to order a SportKilt with sewn down pleats...otherwise you'll get it gathered and it'll look like a skirt rather than a kilt.

My two cents.

Ron

**jbaker42j** · 13th August 08, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Way back when I did a comparison too...may not even be accessible.

My basic comparison is I've owned 3 SportKilts and 22 USA Kilts.

My two cents.

Ron

and his 2 Cents are worth more than 2 thousand of mine so I'd take it for what its worth as I am too poor to own a kilt, but when I do get an entry level I'm gonna go with USAK

then one day a Matt Newsome, I'm gonna be fightin fires till Im 100 but I'm gonna get one!

**cavscout** · 13th August 08, 09:34 PM

As was said and in the other thread SK's and USAK's are night and day.

A USAK will be more form fitting and give a much more tailored look than the elastic, pleat to the gather SK. That may be a negative in the ring once the bell rings.

Semi-trad's have the buckle and straps where as a SK Standard does not.

You might look at one of the Stillwater kilts which will give the appearance benefits of the tailored kilt with maaaaaany pleats in an acrylic material. Price will be very reasonable as well.

**Cassidy** · 13th August 08, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by cavscout

As was said and in the other thread SK's and USAK's are night and day.

A USAK will be more form fitting and give a much more tailored look than the elastic, pleat to the gather SK. That may be a negative in the ring once the bell rings.

Semi-trad's have the buckle and straps where as a SK Standard does not.

You might look at one of the Stillwater kilts which will give the appearance benefits of the tailored kilt with maaaaaany pleats in an acrylic material. Price will be very reasonable as well.

Bear in mind I'm pretty new to this. What's the meaning of "pleat to the gather"?

I have noticed that the SK I own doesn't look quite as fitted as some of the other casuals I've seen around here. There's a lot to learn, it seems.

**Bugbear** · 14th August 08, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Bear in mind I'm pretty new to this. What's the meaning of "pleat to the gather"?

I have noticed that the SK I own doesn't look quite as fitted as some of the other casuals I've seen around here. There's a lot to learn, it seems.

Exactly. On a kilt like a USAK, the kiltmaker goes through several steps to make sure that the pleats are perfectly alined, as well as, each pleat being stitched down for the first third or so of the pleat at the top.

I don't know for sure, but the SK kilts might be just gathered fabric that is tacked down. Huge difference! There's also nothing wrong with baseball bats...

Anyway, that's why it's difficult to compare a SK with a USAK. They aren't ment to be compareable.

**fluter** · 14th August 08, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Bear in mind I'm pretty new to this. What's the meaning of "pleat to the gather"?

To me, the phrase suggests random or irregular pleating that ignores the sett of the tartan --- I'm not sure whether that's actually what Ron means. My SK's acquired since early 2007 were pleated to stripe. Here's a MacGregor, with sewn-down pleats, pleated to the red block.

I have noticed that the SK I own doesn't look quite as fitted as some of the other casuals I've seen around here. There's a lot to learn, it seems.

When SK sews down the pleats, the shape of the kilt is cylindrical. Then it is gathered at the waist with elastic. It's quite comfortable, but as you say not as fitted. Here is a USA Kilt casual, which was made to my waist and hip measurements:

Here's another SportKilt (US St Andrews). I ordered it without the sewn down pleats, then stitched them by hand to try to get a little taper. The experiment was a qualified success. When I have it to do over again, I'll take off the belt loops first, and consider just rebuilding the waistband without the elastic.

This is what I'd call "pleated to the gather"

**beowulf67** · 14th August 08, 05:57 AM

Like Ted said (hey that rhymes) they are 2 different things. There have been several threads comparing the two but what it comes down to is what do you want it for and how much do you want to spend. Both are fairly inexpensive so you'll mostly be looking at the abuse it's going to take in the ring, if thats what it's for, for how good it can look if you're wearing it outside the ring.
I don't have a USAK yet but plan on getting a semi-trad sometime this year because of all the good things I've heard about them around here. I have owned 3 SK's and used 2 for highland games and the 3rd is a Works kilt for pubcrawls, casual wear, etc. Even the basic SK that I have, if I wear a belt and sporran with it, looks good IMHO. And the majority of people are so surprised to see a kilt they don't notice if it's wool, cotton or PV.

**cavscout** · 14th August 08, 06:06 AM

"to the gather" just means the pleats do not all match in appearance or size and are more "ruffely".

In a tailored kilt, pleated to the set or stripe, every pleat will contain the exact same pattern. Like in this photo, the pleat is to the red stripe (vertical stripe) and the waist band lays flat against the waist.

On an SK, the pleats might contain a blue stripe and then a green stripe or a brown stripe or maybe part of both and the waist band would be bunched together with the elastic and appear more billowy or puffy. Sorry I don't have a photo of the back of my SK but since you own one you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. Since the pleats are not sewn in, over time the kilt will require serious ironing to keep the pleats right and will also have to be adjusted individually to get an appearance similar to the photo above. I did this a few times trying to keep it pleated (and ironing is therapeutic to me since my military days) but I just got tired of having to adjust the pleats every time and then still have the puffy waist band in the back.

To be clear, I love my SK for lounging around the house. I don't have another kilt that is better for crashing on the couch in, but when I want to strike a crisp clean image, I'll go with one of my kilts with sewn down pleats.

**Dirk Skene** · 14th August 08, 06:10 AM

Most of my non-wools are Sport Kilt too. You have made a good choice.

**Bugbear** · 14th August 08, 08:58 AM

From what I understand, the USAK will keep it's pleat creases and not wrinkle much like if you sit on them for a long time and so on. Which reminds me, be sure to sweep your pleats when you are doing the Loch Ness Pile Driver. All that is covered at the USAK web site. You can machine wash all the fluids out of them too, so that's good.