had to buy kilt I don't like

**OC Richard** · 17th May 13, 07:55 PM

With all the wonderful lovely tartans out there, all the kilts I would LOVE to have, it's a bit galling to have to put in an order for a new kilt in a tartan I don't care for in the least.

Why would I have to do such a thing??

The story is that we're forming a new Pipe Band, and one of the most daunting expenses of a new band is a set of kilts. We did what bands in our position often do: buy a used set of kilts from another band.

The tartan is Prince Charles Edward Stuart, which I've never cared for. It's basically Royal Stewart, which is nice, but having the nice large vacant red areas reduced to mere stripes, resulting in a crowded or congested tartan which sort of reminds me of an old TV test pattern.

Anyhow the used kilts from the other band all came, are in remarkably good condition, and are in a decent range of sizes. BUT there are a couple of us which need to order new kilts, as none of the old ones will fit us. I'm one of these persons... so just this afternoon I phoned in an order for a brand-spankin' new kilt in a tartan which I NEVER would have ordered under normal circumstances.

(BTW the tartan is 13oz from HOE.)

**Friday** · 17th May 13, 08:05 PM

Sorry, but, sometimes it is important to bite the bullet and accept the "greater good."

**OC Richard** · 17th May 13, 08:17 PM

An interesting aside, PCE Stuart was a military tartan, the tartan of the 72nd Highlanders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_R...wn_Highlanders

They're one of several Highland regiments to lose their Highland Dress in 1809, only to have it partially restored later. With the 72nd Highlanders it meant trews in PCE Stuart tartan (only the pipers being kilted). In 1881 this military tartan was lost, continuing only in the rear drone ribbon of the pipers of the 1st Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders, then later the rear drone ribbon of the pipers of The Queens Own Highlanders.

Numerous illustrations incorrectly show the 72nd Highlanders wearing Royal Stewart tartan, and likewise the Wikipedia article linked to incorrectly gives their tartan as Royal Stewart.

**David Thorpe** · 18th May 13, 02:12 AM

I feel for you, Richard, but I just can't quite reach you.

Look at it the other way... I'm sure you and the band will do it proud!

**OC Richard** · 18th May 13, 04:27 AM

In the big scheme of things it's a smart thing for a band to do. We got 20-odd kilts for what works out to around $100 each, well-made hand-sewn 8-yard kilts in 13oz tartan, in excellent condition. (Luckily the band seems to have not worn kilt pins!) But beggars can't be choosers and you end up with a tartan your band wouldn't have picked for itself. (I had even designed a tartan for the band and we were looking into having it woven.)

Looks like only two or three of us will have to get new kilts made. Two or three kilts at full new-kilt price, when averaged into our total outlay for kilts, still puts us far ahead of the game. Luckily HOE stocks that tartan so the turnaround is relatively quick.

Since I'm the only guy in the band that's made a kilt, and has long experience moving buckles etc, I find my house now full of kilts awaiting alteration.

**Nathan** · 18th May 13, 05:46 AM

So just to clarify, who had to pay for this kilt you or the band? If it's the band, you really didn't have to buy a kilt you didn't like...

**OC Richard** · 18th May 13, 06:30 PM

I had to pay the downpayment. Hopefully the band will pick up part or all of the cost eventually, and it will become just one of the band's kilts.

Actually with the last band I played in I ended up buying my own kilt, because I really didn't like the fit of the kilt they gave me (too big in the waist and too short). It was a tartan I really like, so much so that I ended up getting matching full tartan hose made.