Want help with material weight

[Mychael Sporrano]

Wow, I wish that I could have had access to this information when I first began researching kilts. I am especially impressed with Barb's contribution!! For some personal experience with the various wool kilt weights, consider checking out this older thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1492

Mychael

[longforgan]

We hear all the time about different thicknesses of woolen fabric, but only one thickness of poly viscose.(light) Since p/v could be the choice for winter wear (when it's rainy),would it not be nice to have p/v in say, 14 ounce? The obvious question (at least seemingly obvious to me!)is why haven't manufacturers gone to the option of heavier p/v? Also, I recently read somewhere (can't remember where) that if a fabric feels on the hand to be thin enough for a shirt, then it is not heavy enough for a kilt. The p/v fabric currently available from two makers at least, feels to me to be good for shirts. Anyone enlighten me on all of this? Thanks. - Alan

[beerbecue]

Why not wear wool in the rain?

It retains heat better than almost anything else when wet, and as long as you don't put it in the dryer, it shouldn't shrink.....

[longforgan]

Yeah, I guess you are right Beerbecue. I just have a mental block about getting the wool wet, ken? But, all other things being equal, doesn't wool tend to hold more water than synthetics? (I keep hearing that p/v dries very quickly by just hanging it up) Thanks,- Alan

[beerbecue]

I'm not saying I would wholeheartedly advocate wool in the rain.....

I do agree with you though, it would be nice to have heavier, alternative materials

[bubba]

All I can say about wet wool is it smells like a wet dog.

[Barb T]

Hi all

The one big advantage to 100% wool is that the fabric can be easily shaped with heat and steam. This makes it possible to construct a kilt with some shape to it. This isn't much of an issue for someone with an absolutely straight kilt (waist and hips the same), but for anyone who's building a kilt with a flared apron and tapered pleats (most of the kilts I make are this way, even for the guys, because most people have waists smaller than their hips), it's crucial to be able to stretch and skew the wool, press it, and have it change shape smoothly and without wrinkles. No other fabric is as "shape-able" as wool. It's also key to shaping the apron edge so that it doesn't kick open at the first pleat.

Cheers!

Barb

[macwilkin]

Why not wear wool in the rain?

It retains heat better than almost anything else when wet, and as long as you don't put it in the dryer, it shouldn't shrink.....

There's a reason that armies for years made uniforms out of wool. It is very durable in all sorts of weather. Trust me, after doing over a decade of living history and reenactments in the Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish-American War, etc., I have discovered how versitle wool is in the outdoors! :mrgreen:

Bubba is correct, however, and reenactors tend to smell like a whole flock after a downpour! There are even stories from the CW where Missouri Confederate soldiers, who at one point wore uniforms of un-dyed white wool, were "bleated" at by fellow Confederates when they marched by because of their resemblance to sheep! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

T.