I have a modern kilt and want a great kilt.

**Burly Brute** · 5th November 10, 03:44 PM

Thanks so much all, great, great advice! And I am really digging:

http://ohsusannasleather.com/?202002009038

Although, the festival is tomorrow so I may take a walk and browse the goods. But thanks again to you all! Awesomeness!!

Best,

Zach

P.S. Oh, I am already addicted...just...one..more...2 more...3? ...make it even with 4...5? haha

**dutchy kilted** · 5th November 10, 04:14 PM

Welcome to our shared addiction from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania!

Do you really need a great kilt? I have a fantastic wool great kilt that I can't even think of wearing unless it is below 20 degrees because it just too stinking warm! (Accent on the "stinking.") I can't imagine you would get much use out of it in Phoenix. Use the money you would spend and instead buy a high-quality kilt belt, some sporrans to switch off, and a nice collection of functional kilts to fill your closet!

**Burly Brute** · 5th November 10, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by dutchy kilted

Welcome to our shared addiction from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania!

Do you really need a great kilt? I have a fantastic wool great kilt that I can't even think of wearing unless it is below 20 degrees because it just too stinking warm! (Accent on the "stinking.") I can't imagine you would get much use out of it in Phoenix. Use the money you would spend and instead buy a high-quality kilt belt, some sporrans to switch off, and a nice collection of functional kilts to fill your closet!

Well I would use it mostly for hiking the mountains up north, and to just look bad arce!

**wildrover** · 11th November 10, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

Well I would use it mostly for hiking the mountains up north, and to just look bad arce!

You got it!

Don't sweat the kilt police (we all have our deputized moments)...and don't sweat the sporran so much. Throw on a t-shirt, ditch the sporran, very comfortable. It's a level of formality akin to sweats, or your favorite pair of thrashed but comfortable jeans. Maybe think twice about dressing like that and going to the mall in your flops...you're almost certainly gonna get the "skirt" comments...but around other guys who wear kilts, nobody is gonna care.

...Although we might care if you wear white socks.

**Pleater** · 11th November 10, 08:02 PM

I just noticed that you have Wilsons in your ancestry - my father's mother was born a Wilson.

Great Granddad Wilson and his brother used to work on the big steam engines which powered the mills, and when he was just a lad they would take my dad to go and clear out the boilers as he was small enough to climb inside to chip off the limescale.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**LadyoftheLake** · 10th November 10, 06:47 PM

A great kilt is about the easiest thing to get. It doesn't need to be a specific clan tartan, unless you desire such. All you really need is to do is buy 4(ish) yards of fabric and hem the ends. For your height, you should probably look for something 60" wide, as Pleater said before. You can get plaid wool and wool blends from almost any fabric site, though I find fabric.com has some of the best deals. The easiest way to make sure you belt it at your waist is, once you have pleated it, lay down with the selvage at the backs of your knees, then run the belt beneath you and buckle it around you waist. Make sure you have left enough unpleated on both ends for the aprons so as to preserve your modesty.

As to the sporan, I am in agreement with MacMillan's Son. Don't worry about it, as long as you get one as soon as possible. Bear in mind you will need a second, thin belt for the sporan.

The following website gives very good instructions on how to pleat the kilt, and several different styles of wearing the upper half.

It's great to see someone in a great kilt. It may seem daunting at first, but I'm sure you will love it.
http://www.theweebsite.com/greatkilt/index.html

**piperdbh** · 11th November 10, 06:48 AM

Here's a wrench thrown into the works.

What if, instead of a 4-yard great kilt, you instead buy 2 yards of tartan to match your kilt, sew a 3" wide hem along one end, run your belt through it, fasten the belt about you, and bring the length of the fabric up over your shoulder a la great kilt, and go about your merry way?
Regardez:

Here are better-written directions.

**thescot** · 11th November 10, 09:21 AM

A great kilt is a fine thing to wear, and I enjoy mine on the rare occassions that I wear it. Usually, it is for very dressy occassions, although I have been known to don it with a blue-painted face for Halloween. The kids loved it.

It's easy to do, but I reccomedn that you get 5 yards of cloth. You and I are about the same size, and try to find 60" although 58" will do. You can shop the remnant sales of Burnett's and Struth or some other supplier to find a better price. 5 yards is pretty short, so if you find a remnant, it ought to be very attractivey priced.

If you want to go all out, you could even have a competent tailor sew in some belt loops at the right place to facilitate donning the thing. I wish I had done that when I ordered my, but I was unwisely frugal. Also, the ends (the 60" side, not the selvage side) should be frayed a bit, but yoy can do that sitting on the couch while watching the news. I recommend So You're Going to Wear . . . for some good advice on setting the whole thing up.

Good luck

**Burly Brute** · 11th November 10, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by thescot

A great kilt is a fine thing to wear, and I enjoy mine on the rare occassions that I wear it. Usually, it is for very dressy occassions, although I have been known to don it with a blue-painted face for Halloween. The kids loved it.

It's easy to do, but I reccomedn that you get 5 yards of cloth. You and I are about the same size, and try to find 60" although 58" will do. You can shop the remnant sales of Burnett's and Struth or some other supplier to find a better price. 5 yards is pretty short, so if you find a remnant, it ought to be very attractivey priced.

If you want to go all out, you could even have a competent tailor sew in some belt loops at the right place to facilitate donning the thing. I wish I had done that when I ordered my, but I was unwisely frugal. Also, the ends (the 60" side, not the selvage side) should be frayed a bit, but yoy can do that sitting on the couch while watching the news. I recommend So You're Going to Wear . . . for some good advice on setting the whole thing up.

Good luck

So 58" or 60" should work? It sucks so much! I found this AMAZING clearance fabric store right next to my house, but just about everything runs 54"!!!!! It's hard to because I am super long waisted. I would say a good 4 feet of my height from my knees to my head! lol

Thanks for all the comments and helpful advice!