New and need advice about kilt weight/yardage

[John McQuillen]

Hi all,

Just a quick introduction and a quick question directed to others in Aus:

I'm looking into my first kilt purchase and plan to buy Locharron fabric but I'm not decided on yardage/weight. I've worn a heavy regimental kilt before but that always left a wet patch round my middle. I'm in Sydney Australia - what are others in Australia buying? 13oz/16oz yardage etc? I will need a kilt for casual and regular formal, but I'm also probably going to look to get the best I can for my wedding which will be a separate purchase (yeh I'm already planning buying a few kilts)

I've noticed quite a few have talked about 16oz even in warm weather but haven't seen a comment from Aus about weight/warmth etc.

Look forward to chatting with you all more over time.....

Slainte.

[Pyper]

It gets pretty warm here in South Carolina. Humid too.

We were at a piping competition yesterday, and it as about 33C. No shade either.

Heavier weight wool holds it's shape better. If you have the really light weight it will wrinkle when you sit for any period of time (like driving to something).

I think that when it's hot, you're going to sweat, so any kilt you're wearing will get wet round the middle. May as well look good if you're going to be wearing it, right?

Welcome to the forums!

[cdarwin]

This discussion has come up before and you might find similar threads by searching a bit. I can't say from experience yet, but I've heard numerous times that if you're concerned about heat, just use less material (NOT LIGHTER) in your kilt. The heavier fabrics will maintain shape much better than the lighter ones. It is often suggested to go with the heaviest weight of fabric but use less of it. So, a heavy weight box (or 4-5 yard knife) pleated kilt should, in theory, be more comfortable and confidence inspiring than a lower weight 8-9 yard knife pleated kilt.

Cheers,
-J

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, John, and welcome to X Marks from the far side of the Indian Ocean.
Like you, I wore an army kilt. My regiment (wisely, I think) used to arrange for its camps to be held in winter, so we rarely raised a sweat in our heavy kilts.
Last time I was in uniform was 34 years ago. I acquired a kilt this year, in polyviscose (PV). It is very comfortable in hot weather, although it can be a bit chilly right now!
What regiment were you in?
Regards,
Mike

[John McQuillen]

Hi Mike,

It was actually a pipeband but we wore a full regimental dress.... The heavy military weight kilts, the heavy woolen jackets, all the white touches and polished chrome bits etc etc on top of that I was often the bass drummer so I had a leopard skin too..... In the height of an Aussie summer you'd sweat so much you got cool again....

[chrisupyonder]

Welcome from the far north coast of Scotland.

It never gets that hot up here but we are heading towards the 6 weeks when it never quite goes dark. I love this time of year.

Chris.

[Pleater]

The South coast of England has been roasted for months - tropical things are flowering for the first time in decades.

I have been wearing my lightest kilts and always have two layers of cotton betwen it and me at the waist, a tee shirt and a cotton liner.

The liner actually acts as a barrier to the heat, and going out without one day I could feel the difference between sunlight and shadow, and the sunlight was far less comfortable than usual.

I make the liners from various weights of cotton, some have darts and some have a few small Kingussie style pleats, depending on how much fabric I had. They are kilt style, so overlap in front but not so much as the kilts. They are not so necessary indoors, but they protect the kilt and reduce the washing. They can be washed and dried easily, ironed rather than pressed and make life easier.

If I did not have the liners I would be making some tunic length tops - I'd far rather have damp cotton than damp wool against my skin.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[saxandpipes]

Welcome, from a Kiwi living in Windmill-land.

I know Aussie summers can get blinkin hot! I've been asking similar questions as I also have a wedding coming up (in July, in Spain). So, again anticipating a ridiculous heat (35 celcius+).

Avoiding it in 2 ways: 1st an evening wedding. 2nd, I plan to downsize on the yardage of the kilt. (6 yards, rather than 8 or 9).

I don't want to sacrifice on the swing, or solidity of the kilt, so am going with 16 oz (Lochcarron weathered Gunn).

The advice I have been given, and I think it's especially relevant if you want the thing for a wedding, is not to compromise with a lighter-weight tartan if possible, but rather lose a bit of the quantity of wool.

Hope this helps,

Cheers!

Michael

[saxandpipes]

Oh, forgot to add,

I did wear a 16 oz (heavyweight) 8/9 yard kilt to an August wedding in Spain a few years ago! (no jacket or waistcoat!)

I survived, but indeed had huge salt lines left in the lining of the kilt, from where I was sweating all night long around my middle (the rest of me was reasonably comfortable). I could have also had to do with the fact that people at Spanish weddings dance ALOT.

(The marks didn't make it through to the wool, and they are totally gone from the lining now too).

Cheers,

M

[billsides]

Hi, I am in Melbourne, just spotted your note, am wearing a 13 oz woollen kilt as I write this but have been dancing indoors so was fine, I was at the Celtic festival near the beach at Portarlington over the weekend and it is near the shortest day and hardy hot so I wore a 10 yard 16 oz woollen kilt and was very comfortable! I have also worn it on century temp days and a 13 oz in deep winter but obviously one is warmer than the other but the difference is not as great as you may think. It may be the heavy one takes in less sun heat being thicker, the breezes beneath are little different so get what you like but the heavy ones definately look and stay better longer. PV is cheap and quite reasonable and similar but not as good as 13 oz wool whereas acrylic is cheapest and best for comfort summer or winter but will never stay looking good that long and is light so very iffy when windy! Hope this helps.

Bill Sides Melbourne