8-yard AND 5-yard Advice

[Dale Seago]

Dale do you have any pleat pictures?

I do. You'd want to discuss pleating options (to sett, to whatever stripe, etc.) directly with Matt, but you can see mine right beside the 6-yard Douglas Modern he made for me here.

[StevieR]

Hi Bren,

Nothing beats quality so buy the best you can afford. Both vendors are well thought of on this forum.

Rocky quite rightly points out that buying in the US gives you a distinct benefit regarding postage, lack of import duty etc., so this might play a big role in your decision.

With this in mind, if I were in your shoes, I'd add forty dollars to the top price you mention and buy a USA hand sewn. It will be your pride and joy for the rest of your natural - and then some.

Actually, I've just noticed that USA Kilts "red tabbed" tartans, of which your choice is one, carry an extra 60 dollar charge. Hmmm. Think I'd stay in on a Saturday night or two and still go for it!

[TheOfficialBren]

Hmm...some excellent advice here, gentlemen. Thank you very much for your insight.

I am quite happy with my current kilt from USA Kilts and the shipping/duty-free aspect is quite attractive.

I must give this more thought and weight my options.

Much obliged, folks.

[Stan]

I've purchased 3 kilts from Scotweb. Two are the 5 yard (wool) casual kilts in a 13 oz house of Edgar wool, and one is the 7 yard kilt in a 16 oz. wool "tank".

I think that if it was my first wool kilt, I'd be more concerned about the length than the yardage. Why? Because I think that very few people can tell the difference between 30 1.5 inch deep pleats vs 30 3 inch deep pleats.

The 5 yard kilt from Scotweb is the best deal that I found, and the quality and workmanship is completely uncompromising. Two BIG thumbs up.

More:
The 5 yard casual kilts have two straps and the 7 yard 16 oz. kilt has three straps. I also own a 5 yard 13 oz. traditional cut kilt from another company that I can't remember the name of, but it's great too.

My first wool kilt was a 5 yard (two strap) kilt from Scotweb. It made me a convert to 5 yard kilts. After receiving a 5 yard 13 oz. wool casual kilt and then a 7 yard 16 oz. wool kilt (from Scotweb also) I've come to think that you only (or I only need) really need one 8 yard kilt and then several 5 yard or casual (wool or not) kilts.

I've come to the conclusion that two straps are just as nice (and kind of nicer) than three, and I like to wear a casual (but tartan) kilt (22 inches in length instead of 24.5) in place of slacks to events where I'd wear a casual business wear. I love the tall "tank's" but the ease of the 5 yard kilt (cut to 22 L. on me) is dressy, classy, and I doubt that many people would ever know that your kit is 2 inches shorter than a "tank" or that it's 30 pleats aren't 3 inches deep.

The 22 inch length works well (on me) with an Argyle jacket, and (if I move the kilt up about 1.5 inches) great with a P.C. as well.

[TheOfficialBren]

Interesting. Thank you, Stan. What were your import duties like (if I may presume to ask)? I have heard some folks having their dutie s dismissed, others getting slammed. It seems like a roll of the dice there.

[Spartan Tartan]

I am in the heavy weight club as well. Of course, it is ultimately your decision, but Given the amount of material there is little difference in temperature. I lived in Oklahoma with 100+ temps and all y kilts are heavy weight. I was never uncomfortable due to heat from the material weight.

Just my two cents...

[unixken]

The 22 inch length works well (on me) with an Argyle jacket, and (if I move the kilt up about 1.5 inches) great with a P.C. as well.

If you were to see yourself from the rear, wearing the shorter length kilt pulled up higher than it was designed for, however, you'd see that the stitching of the fell no longer stops at the right place, the pleats open up too high on the butt, and the pleats just don't hang as designed. Again, there's more to the construction of the kilt than simply where you decide the top edge should (or can) be worn, or where it ends, relative to the knee cap. What happens in the middle is just as important to a proper fit.

[Stan]

I guess this all depends on long your waist is, and how you wear you kilt to began with.

[TheOfficialBren]

No matter how I am dressed (casual or dressier) I always wear my kilt at the traditional height.

Whether I am in a tie and waistcoat, a polo shirt, a safari shirt, or a t-shirt---it is always at the traditional height, knees and waist. Luckily, Rocky's kilts are very accurate there. I am SO GLAD that my measurements were spot on, because when my PV Holyrood kilt arrived it fit like a glove. Wool is a bigger investment...and I have every confidence that it will look and feel even better than my already good-quality P/V kilt.



Thanks, gents. The more I read the more I'm jazzed!

[Hopper250]

This was very informative. Thanks.