Will you order an X Marks kilt?

[Jerry]

Allan, I'll commit to purchasing 2 meters of the double width 16 os wool. (my wife is going to kill me), and would be willing to help split the cost of registration too. I might have to wait a while to order a kilt, but I don't think wool goes bad. Something which would help a lot of us make a decision would be if some of the kilt makers here could provide a rough estimate on how much they would charge us to make a kilt.

Before I submit my recommendation to Chief Hank... (hey Hank, where are you? I've had no response to my last 3 PM's) I want to have at least 2-3 people who work with kilts see the samples. So I've made arrangements for the following people to see the swatches from N. Bately: Steve from Freedom Kilts, Bear, M.A.C. Newscome, and Cydni from Thistle Stop. Rocky from USA Kilts told me he's ordered some swatches from N. Bately as well, so he'll have an opinion. I can't send swatches to everyone, and I figured this was a pretty educated cross-sampling, so there we go.

Bear works with Fraser and Kirkbright cloth all the time, and I believe Colin is making a kilt from Fraser and Kirkbright material. If you visit www.thescottishweaver.com you'[ll see F&K's 11 ounce line of tartan, but they custom weave in heavier weights as well. So when we finally get there, we will have lots of "data" on hand to make a good decision. Honestly, I believe that both of these mills turn out a first-class product, so in fact it will probably come down to price and speed.

Regarding what a kilt will cost, just go visit the kiltmakers websites and look! Make a reasonable guesstimate of what the "break" will be if you supply the kiltmaker with the material and go from there. You can get within $20 - $30 of the actual cost, for sure. If that's not close enough, one e-mail will give you the answer.

Thanks for the info. I have another question though. Since I'm a bit above average in waist size.(The traditional kilt that Rocky is making for me is a 47" waist), might I not need a bit more that 2 meters for a casual 4 yard kilt? I think hat Rocky stated somewhere in the forums that actual yardage depends on the sett, the waist size, and maybe a few other things which I can't remember right now.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I know that when I am making a "4 yard" kilt for anyone with hips larger than 46" I'll go ahead and order 5 yards of cloth.
Matt

[Jerry]

I know that when I am making a "4 yard" kilt for anyone with hips larger than 46" I'll go ahead and order 5 yards of cloth.
Matt

Thank you, Matt, Alan, I'll need about 2.5 meters. 5 yards is about 4.6 meters. Half of that, (double width) is 2.3 meters, so the 2,5 allows a little extra (perhaps enough for a sash for my wife).

[Hamish]

I have just scanned through this thread at some speed and WOW, how things have moved forward whilst I have been away!

My original commitment to an 8 yard x 16oz kilt still holds good, but a couple of points come to mind (and it could be that I missed something in my haste but, if so, I am sure someone will put me right.

1). Of course the actual colouring (we HAVE chosen Tartan One, I take it?) can be slightly different to that depicted on my monitor - that I understand - but can anyone assure me that the Dark Blue will NOT be as dark as Navy Blue? If it is to be Navy then I think the end result will be rather dull.

The 'Saltire Kilt', discussed in another thread is, in reality, a number of shades lighter, and livlier, than Navy. I have seen several of those kilts and the colour is superb. I'd like to think the "X Marks.." tartan will be a similar shade.

2). If the tartan is to be woven in Scotland and shipped to the USA - import duties or charges will be levied and relatively high shipping costs will have to be paid. If my kilt is then tailored in the USA from that fabric and shipped back to me in the United Kingdom, I will be obliged to pay another set of import duties and taxes, and shipping costs - double whammies!! Is there no way I could receive 'my' length of the tartan direct from the Scottish mill here in the UK, thereby avoiding double import duties, one set of taxes and two lots of international shipping charges?

My kilt could then be made up by my own Scottish kiltmaker and the overall price would be somewhat more palatable. I mean no disrespect to our kiltmakers in the USA - I am just trying to be realistic.

If there is anyone else here in the UK who is 'in' on this exciting exercise, perhaps we could join forces and save a few more pounds.

[Graham]

Good point about import duties Hamish, I was thinking about my situation here, I don't believe I've paid such duties on kilts from USA, perhaps not so strict here.

[Hamish]

Good point about import duties Hamish, I was thinking about my situation here, I don't believe I've paid such duties on kilts from USA, perhaps not so strict here.

Hello Graham!

Yes, the cost of importing finished kilts, and presumably lengths of fabric, into the UK from the USA - that's the Duties, VAT, clearance, documentation and handling charges, and the shipping - can mean that 33% of the value of the goods has to be paid before the goods are delivered. I have been charged in that way several times when having my Utilikilts sent over. On the leather one, I had to pay something over £146 before the shipping agents would part with it!!

It just seems pointless for those of us in the UK to have to pay the American equivalent of those charges AND be charged again when the kilt or fabric is sent back to within 400 miles of the weaving mill!

Take care,
Ham.
(PS: Graham, have there been any developments or alterations to the schedule for your UK visit in July? I am still flying out to Vancouver on 31st July which, if you recall, was the date you first proposed for our London (Kew?) meet up!)

[Alan H]

I hear you Hamish! I've talked to two people about this exact thing, because it seems pretty unfair to me, too. Problem is, I don't see any way around it. The British Mill won't sell you 3 meters of wool, they'll only sell you 10 or more. Minimu morder for a weave is 20 meters, so we have to get it sent here since most of the "buyers" are in North America.

On the other hand, if you and two other gents from the UK could get together and put in an order all as one, for ten yards, I'm sure they'd be happy to ship 20 yards over here and ten yards to you gentlemen.

[KiltedBishop]

Also based on what Matt said I need to increase mine as well. I would have to go with 5 yards, so 2.5 double width. however that works out. =)

btw welcome back Hamish!

[Alan H]

Also based on what Matt said I need to increase mine as well. I would have to go with 5 yards, so 2.5 double width. however that works out. =)

btw welcome back Hamish!

Right! My concern was making sure I had enough for a minimum order of 20 yards. It's pretty clear that we have it, so I'm good to go.

I've banged together a form that you can print and send along with your payment when the day comes. On that form you request the total yardage/meterage that you want. As long as that's over 20 meters, we're stylin'.

More on the specifics of that, later.

[Hamish]

I hear you Hamish! I've talked to two people about this exact thing, because it seems pretty unfair to me, too. Problem is, I don't see any way around it. The British Mill won't sell you 3 meters of wool, they'll only sell you 10 or more. Minimu morder for a weave is 20 meters, so we have to get it sent here since most of the "buyers" are in North America.

On the other hand, if you and two other gents from the UK could get together and put in an order all as one, for ten yards, I'm sure they'd be happy to ship 20 yards over here and ten yards to you gentlemen.

Thank you for that Alan. Actually, I have calculated that, depending upon the size of the sett, I'll probably need 4 metres, not 3, to be on the safe side for a full 8 yard kilt, but that does not change the situation. I was hoping that the mill might be prepared to cut off the 4 metres and pop it in the post to me, just before they shipped the 'bulk' off to you. I would still pay you for it, and pay the postage for my length direct to the mill! I suppose that would be too much to ask!!

I don't know of anyone over here who would be prepared to join with me in the way you suggest.

By the way, is each one of us to be responsible for having our own kilt made up by whomsoever we choose, or is the plan to have one kiltmaker over there make them all?

I am sorry, I have rushed into all of this and have probably missed a lot of the detail.