Custom Throwin' Kilt

**MacFhearchair** · 13th January 13, 06:19 PM

Was wondering if you dudes wanted to help me hash something out. I think Alan has given me his $.02 on this in the past although if he were to do so again that'd be great because I totally failed to take notes the first time around.

I feel fortunate that the folks in Clan Farquharson are enthusiastic about my participation in the games. They have expressed disappointment that many comps require athletes to wear a specific t-shirt, so I can't identify with/represent them more obviously. Clearly the answer is to get a kilt in the correct tartan, but then you get into all the other questions; wool or synthetic? (or something else?) Knife or box? How much effort should I put into it? What kind of closure? Should I just give Sport Kilt some material and ask them to make it?

I like the one I already have - It has pockets and velcro as well as buckle straps. It's a bit light on material - I feel like the pleats are only a token effort with how shallow they are, but maybe that's a good thing because it's lighter?

I almost want to just use my good kilt - I mean, it's a kilt. It's supposed to be able to stand up to some measure of abuse, right? I shouldn't just keep it in my closet and only bring it out to look schmancy, right?? That's like buying a jeep and driving it only on paved roads. :P Or is it?

**The Wizard of BC** · 13th January 13, 07:23 PM

The last time I checked the Farquharson Tartan was readily available in the 65% Polyester/35% Rayon blend fabric from Marton Mills. I have ordered Farquharson Tartan fabric in P/V and made kilts from it.

I have also made kilts specifically for the running group The Hash House Harriers. In fact I was the one who did most of the design work for the HHH Tartans and the running kilts which of course I will never get credit for. (A long story. Ask if you really want to know.)

The difference with my kilts specific for sports is that they look like kilts. They are made almost the same as my normal rental/Off the rack kilts except for added strengthening at the stress points.

Pockets are not a problem. I don't usually suggest too many pockets for a throwing kilt as the stuff in the pockets is prone to be caught and tear the pocket, but a pocket for your car keys, and other stuff you still need to keep track of are no problem.

Here are the first ever running/throwing kilts in the HHH tartans before my design work was given away.

**o1d_dude** · 13th January 13, 10:26 PM

Very nice kilts, Steve.

Definitely swaggerworthy.

**The Wizard of BC** · 13th January 13, 11:12 PM

FYI

(I have removed some of my comments in this post as unkind.)

If anyone is interested I still have the first bolts of fabric woven in these Tartans in my shop.

Each kilt is built extra strong to withstand the abuse of runners and heavy athletes. There are bar-tacks at the stress points and double or triple stitching where needed. Each kilt has two hidden pockets designed specifically to be as in-obtrusive as possible, to keep a set of keys and a few cards out of harms way and placed where there is minimal chance causing chafe or getting caught on cabers or what have you.

Both the kilts in the pictures had been washed in a machine over 20 times before being photographed. They had not been touched by an iron once. The dark one had been left in my driveway and driven over for three days.

**RogerWS76** · 14th January 13, 02:41 AM

Steve,

Do you make a special kilt just FOR Heavy Athletics in Tartan fabric? I couldn't find it on your website but I would gladly accept direction.

**The Wizard of BC** · 14th January 13, 03:07 AM

In consultation with the athlete, yes. I don't just make a kilt and call it an athletes kilt expecting one kilt to be suitable for everyone.

But as the cost of the kilt is a very large component in the choice of an athletic kilt I am not known for them. Most of my kilts are a bit more expensive than those made overseas or from light cotton fabrics.

**Alan H** · 14th January 13, 09:06 AM

I have held Freedom Kilts in my hot little hands and inspected them carefully. They are the bomb. Both the contemporary kilt I looked over, and the many-pleated X Marks tartan kilts were built like nobody's business. Steve's handiwork doesn't come cheap, but it is without any shadow of a doubt, very much worth it.

**MacFhearchair** · 14th January 13, 04:16 PM

*nods* Those do look nice. I had sort-of imagined making myself one, but maybe I'm kidding myself about how much personal effort I'm ready to dump into this. It definitely isn't going to happen without me buying a darned sewing machine already.

Is a throwing kilt in actual wool just unheard of or what? I'm more partial to natural fiber than I can justify.

Let me mull this over a while, Steve. The season's a little ways off yet, anyway, and I'm catching up on holiday bills. Maybe I should promise myself one of your kilts as a reward to myself for an invitation to Pleasanton in 2014, which is my perhaps-overly-ambitious personal goal.

(...but not my most ambitious personal goal, mind you.) ;)

**Alan H** · 14th January 13, 04:27 PM

I don't think that Pleasanton 2014 is an overly ambitious goal at all. Pleasanton 2013...yeah. That's a bit quick, but 2014 is doable, iffin' you bust hump and train smart and all.

You Can Do It.

**MacFhearchair** · 15th January 13, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

I don't think that Pleasanton 2014 is an overly ambitious goal at all. Pleasanton 2013...yeah. That's a bit quick, but 2014 is doable, iffin' you bust hump and train smart and all.

You Can Do It.

I told you about my really ambitious goal. ... pie in the sky type stuff. Oh had I but discovered this fascination 10 years ago.