4 yd. 16 oz. versus 8 yd. 11 oz.

[cavscout]

The time has come to attempt my first kilt.

The delima comes from having access to only 2 yards of double width wool. This should be good for a 4 yard kilt. Of those of you who have 4 yard wool kilts, If you had the choice of 8 yards of 11 oz. wool or 4 yards of 16 oz. wool, which would you choose?

The tartan I'm looking at is Loud MacLeod for the 4 yards. Are there any factors I should consider about this tartan (better to stripe or sett, ...). I've seen Bears MacLeod in a few photos and this tartan just seems to rock.

[David White]

The time has come to attempt my first kilt.

The delima comes from having access to only 2 yards of double width wool. This should be good for a 4 yard kilt. Of those of you who have 4 yard wool kilts, If you had the choice of 8 yards of 11 oz. wool or 4 yards of 16 oz. wool, which would you choose?

The tartan I'm looking at is Loud MacLeod for the 4 yards. Are there any factors I should consider about this tartan (better to stripe or sett, ...). I've seen Bears MacLeod in a few photos and this tartan just seems to rock.

I'd go for the four yards of 16oz. Will hang, swing better also hold the pleat.
I do believe you will be better off making "box-pleats" with only four yards. I know some fellas don't really care for them, but IT was the first style of sewn kilts and historically accurate. You would have something that is not seen much. They not that hard to do really Just my thoughts.

dave

[Colin]

The time has come to attempt my first kilt.

The delima comes from having access to only 2 yards of double width wool. This should be good for a 4 yard kilt. Of those of you who have 4 yard wool kilts, If you had the choice of 8 yards of 11 oz. wool or 4 yards of 16 oz. wool, which would you choose?

The tartan I'm looking at is Loud MacLeod for the 4 yards. Are there any factors I should consider about this tartan (better to stripe or sett, ...). I've seen Bears MacLeod in a few photos and this tartan just seems to rock.

Simple.....Both.

Try the 4 yard to start, as the fabric is on sale and likely not going to last. It will be a good opportunity to try your hand at kiltmaking. Once that is done, set your sites on a nice formal 8 yard (in whatever weight you can find at that time). The site I refered you to for the MacLeod updates their remnants section at the start of each month, so you never know what may be available from time to time. I got a screaming deal on 14 oz wool in MacKenzie Morgan there a few months ago. It is going to make a fine 9 yard kilt one day soon. http://www.tartansauthority.com/web/...rtan=Mackenzie
(bottom of the page).

MacKenzie Morgan

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Get your "feet wet" with the 4-yarder, then take the time to make an 8-yarder after you've got the feeling back in your finger tips. The 4-yard version leaves more play for small variances and will still look good. An 8-yarder that doesn't have the proper taper will have the pleats wandering all over the place. You should be able to get the concept with the first 4-yard version.

Have fun!!!!!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'd pick a four yard 16 oz kilt over an 8 yard 11 oz kilt any day of the week. There are several reasons. First, the heavier weight cloth simply makes a better kilt, I don't care if it is 4 or 8 yards. The pleats will hang better, hold their pleats better, etc. Second, the four yard kilt is going to be more comfortable -- even with the heavier cloth, it will be a much lighter garment.

The only reason I would choose the 11 oz 8 yard kilt is if I were going to be marching in parade , with a pipe band, or something similar, where I would want the "swing" of the pleats that you get in an 8 yard kilt.

I made a four-yard box pleated kilt in "Loud MacLeod." If you want to see what it would look like pleated to the red line, click below:
http://kilts.albanach.org/macleod.jpg

BTW, that's MikeNC from this forum!

Aye,
Matt

[David White]

Hi Matt!

Checked out the link and the kilt is really awesome.
Great work :grin:. I also agree with the heavier weight clothe.

dave

[cavscout]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. And Matt, you must have read my mind on the red stripe.

I'm not sure though about the box pleat. For a first attempt is a knife pleat easier than a box pleat?

The kilt looks awesome though.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sure a knife pleat is easier -- but the box pleat is more traditional for a four yard kilt, and you'll end up with a better look that way. Four yard knife pleated kilts are ok -- you could always go back in and make them box pleats later. But it's not that much more difficult and well worth the extra effort in my opinion.

M