[Drac]

With your gentlemen help I have decided to go with a Kathy Lare kilt. I'm still debating on 13 vs. 18 oz due to the heat in Texas.

Now that I have a better understanding (Kathy was very patient and gentle with me) of kilts I have to decide on the tartan. I want this first one to be either something I have a connection to or an un-restricted one. As far as Scottish affiliation there is a connection to Steels is Gordon. I have a connection through both the Navy (Edzell) and the Sea Bees (though that only comes in 11 oz) since I currently serve in a Sea Bee unit in the Navy Reserves. I will be joining the CLSNA (Lamonts) and they have welcomed me to wear the tartan. Like most Americans I have an option of the Bi-Centennial. As a Texas resident there's Bluebonnet.

What other un-restricted tartans are there out there? I know of the Black Watch but I'm sure there are much more than that. I tried the Registry but it doesn't seem to allow a search by that category.

Thanks,
Jim

[Tobus]

I usually use Rocky's website for searching tartans, although I'm sure there are other sites that list them by categories too.

Rocky has a complete list of district and universal tartans here. It looks like he has 248 of them on there.

[MrLion]

.....

[Drac]

Cool. That will make things easier.

Thanks,
Jim

[davidlpope]

I really don't think you can go wrong with either a 13oz. or 16oz. tartan if you're getting an 8yd kilt. I've worn both and don't think there's that much difference in terms of heat. I tend to focus more on the additional weight that comes from the large amount of fabric contained in the pleats (one of the reasons that I'm such a fan of Matt Newsome's low yardage knife-pleat kilts!). 16oz. fabric will probably hold up better in the long run, although you may be limited based on which tartan/color scheme you decide on.

If you're planning to join and participate in a clan society/ association I would encourage you to buy and wear a kilt in that tartan. Normally folks will join a clan society/association that they have a genealogical tie to.

Cordially,

David

[HeathBar]

If that is the Lamont society you are joining, then I would say that is the best option. If you are a Texan, then the Bluebonnet would be a close second. As for the weight of the tartan, that would depend upon its availability in the mill and color scheme you prefer. I would go with the 16oz if its available in the tartan you choose. I doubt you would see much difference in the heat factor between 13oz and 16oz in a full 8yd kilt.

If you are looking for a different universal tartan, I like the Hunting Stewart in ancient colors. It has military traditions as well as being universal.

This is a large investment. I would get swatches in the different tartans. Even swatches of the same tartan from different mills and choose the one you like best.

[Drac]

On the Lamonts, I started working with them when I was under a wrong impression that my paternal Grandmother was a Whyte. It seems my father has no idea what his mother's maiden name was. It turns out she was a Green. Her mother was a Whited, an old English name.

Lucky for me the Lamonts aren't letting me go (good people over there, or maybe because I bribed one of the seniors with chocolate) so I will be making my association formal soon (wife will determine when the membership dues goes out). They are the leader right now with a Lamont Modern in 16 oz. Kathy said that one should not have any issues getting it in either 13 or 16 oz.

Going through the list quickly there are several choices that are out there and rather attractive.

Jim

[Zardoz]

Can't go wrong with the Bluebonnet. We need more Bluebonnet kilts in Texas!

[NorCalPiper]

I had a customer come in for measuring wearing a bluebonnet tartan kilt recently and was absolutely floored how good it looked. SeaBees and the Edzell Navy both look great also. I find personally that closer the connection, the more connected I feel to wearing that tartan. My most immediate family that came from Scotland were from Isle of Skye, so I have 3 kilts in this tartan (4 actually counting a USAKILT Casual that I wore literally almost everyday this past summer-Evan on a cross country drive from Atlanta to California!). I'm a MacDonald, MacGreggor, Lamont, Brown, yada yada, but the closer the association, the more I actually "feel" when wearing the tartan. Texas is your home. Thats the most important thing in your life.....Go with bluebonnet.

[Drac]

Thanks guys.

I will be going with Lamont but thanks to you guys I will be adding several tartans to the wish list.

Jim