There's something about these kilts

[Planopiper]

This photo was taken at my piping instructor's New Year's Eve party. I'm not sure what I was doing in this shot. That's my instructor with his back to the camera. Every year we get together and at midnight whatever band members are there go out in the street and play in front of his house. The neighbors have come to expect it.



I was looking through some pictures from last week's party and noticed something interesting about the kilts in this one. Can you spot it? There may not be enough to see, but it's worth a try. I'll post the answer later today.

A side note: I had just got the dirk for Christmas and I had to wear it.

[Dreadbelly]

They are box pleated?

[Planopiper]

Good try, but that's not it. There definitely isn't enough of the kilts in the picture to make that out. These are both traditional kilts made in Scotland. They have something in common that I think will surprise most people.

[Dreadbelly]

No straps?

[turpin]

It's the same tartan. Probably from 2 different mills. I'm guessing his is from Lochcarron.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

No belt loops?

[Planopiper]

Well, that was too quick. Yes. They are both Ancient Caledonian. The colors don't always look the same in a picture as they do in real life. Next to each other these kilts don't look at all alike.
I don't know where the fabric was woven. My kilt was made by Burnetts and Struth. The other was by someone else. I have a picture of both next to each other so you can see them better, but it's not where I can upload it right now. I was surprised by how much difference there is in the two, even though they are both supposed to be the same. The main difference is that in Bob's kilt the blue is very pale. The red is also more of an orange in mine. It just goes to show that you can't just ask for a tartan thinking you know what it looks like. I have another piece of Ancient Caledonian that I bought to use as a great kilt. The sett is smaller than in this kilt and the red is more red, less orange. Otherwise, it's pretty close to my kilt, but still different enough if I had been hoping to get something that matched exactly.

[pdcorlis]

I'm with Turpin - tartan is Caledonia and mills are Lochcarron and House of Edgar?

EDIT...

A day late and a dollar short - again!

[Cawdorian]

The sett (size of the pattern) of the tartan will be smaller on a 13 oz kilt that a 16 oz kilt, the heavier the material, the larger the sett.

[Planopiper]

Here's the picture of both fabrics. Both are labeled Ancient Caledonian.

The sett size isn't important. It's the difference in colors that I found so surprising.