Great kilt advice

[Highlander31]

Greetings and welcome to the forum.

[Big Paul]

from Detroit, Michigan, USA!

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

from WV! You'll find the Great Kilt a versatile garment. When I wear mine in summer and it gets to warm, I simply let the material drape behind me. You can also roll it up and tuck it into the back of your belt.

Cheers!
David

[McFarkus]

from Chicago

[macneighill]

from "Karst Kountry" . . beautiful Central Kentucky, USA

[Donnie]

slainte, sonas, agus beartus

[Thunderbolt]

A little later it will be the top layer on my bed. This is after all the traditional use for the big piece of wool tartan.

Huh, I thought I was the only one to do this....

In general, great kilts don't have sewn-in pleats, they are pleated fresh each time you wear them. That being said, it is possible to put in "cheater pleats" (as the Celtic Croft folk call it. They have good descriptions of these at their site.) This can be done in a way that keeps the traditional look but makes it a bit easier to handle.

There is also some historical basis for a drawstring run through a series of loops that allow one to pleat it more quickly and evenly.
Moosedog

Yes. Remember that the Great Kilt was a poor-mans garment. Any tailoring may have been out of the 'price range' of a highlander!

I've worn mine quite a bit. It looks a bit odd walking around in public in one though! But when hiking/camping or doing most any other outdoor activity, they fit the bill nicely for appropriate clothing. They ability of the kilt to adjust and change according to the environmental conditions and the activity of the wearer are it's beauty. There isn't a garment in the modern world today that is as simple, versatile and works!

Good luck with the G.K. Let us know how it works out.

And.....WELCOME!

T.

[Scully]

Greetings from Greensboro NC

[BEEDEE]

from coastal North Carolina.

Brian

[Jack Daw]

Hello and welcome from Houston, TX. I have two large cuts of tartan textile that I hand-pleat into great kilts. No pleats are sown in; however, I do not fault anyone who has had this done. It takes me all of about 10 minutes to hand-pleat and strap on with a waist belt. I used to be a Jacobite representer and piper, but now only wear the great kilt to the Texas Ren Fest. I have never had any trouble keeping the hand-pleats in place with my belt.