Kiltmaking in Iceland, August 2011

**Barb T.** · 8th August 11, 04:11 PM

I'm back in Iceland for a week or so of field work (the geological variety), and I have a couple of kilts with me that I'm working on. I promised the two guys that I'm making the kilts for that I would take pics of the kilts in progress in Iceland, and I couldn't think of a better spot than somewhere on the ice.

Today, I took a day off, and my husband and I drove up into the highlands and hiked out to the glacier cap of Langjokull. It was one of those rare, spectacularly sunny days in Iceland. Here are a few pics of the "kilts on ice".

Me on the ice:

Fishing in my pack for the first kilt:

Unfurling a partly-completed Allen kilt - it was a tad windy - a very cold wind....

Modern Allen, pleated to the sett:

With my usual American flag stabilizer:

Fishing in my pack for the second kilt:

US Air Force Reserve Pipe Band tartan, pleated to the stripe, but not as far along as the Allen kilt:

**Highlander31** · 8th August 11, 04:50 PM

Those are some nice looking tartans. Looks a bit cool there.

**Barb T.** · 8th August 11, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Highlander31

Looks a bit cool there.

A bit like standing in front of a huge walk-in freezer with a fan inside blowing the cold air on you.....

**KiltedDixon** · 8th August 11, 05:06 PM

The Allen kilt really caught my eye. The landscape is striking too. Hope you have a safe and productive adventure.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 8th August 11, 06:16 PM

Awesome Barb, both the landscape and the kilts. The Allen is especially striking.

**Standard** · 8th August 11, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by KiltedCodeWarrior

Awesome Barb, both the landscape and the kilts. The Allen is especially striking.

I'll second that. Also, as I have Allens in my ancestors I might have to look a bit closer at that tartan. As always it is interesting to see you at work on a new kilt in various parts of the world.

**seanachie** · 8th August 11, 10:05 PM

As an Air Force vet, I am sure the AF tartan will feel at home. Keflavik NAS hosted Air Forces Iceland and was an important base during the cold war.
I still love F4s and they used to be based there.

**English Bloke** · 9th August 11, 12:12 AM

Tremendous kilted adventure and the kilts aren't even finished. Those will be pictures to treasure for the recipients. Nice one Barb.

**cessna152towser** · 9th August 11, 01:33 AM

Fabulous pics, Barb, magnificent landscape, and two superb looking kilts beginning to take shape there.

**Barb T.** · 9th August 11, 01:52 AM

The Allen kilt really caught my eye.

The Allen tartan is beautiful - a Dalgliesh custom weave, and they chose a gorgeous blue for the main color. This is the second Allen kilt that I've made from a custom weave, and I very much prefer this rendition of the colors.

As an Air Force vet, I am sure the AF tartan will feel at home. Keflavik NAS hosted Air Forces Iceland and was an important base during the cold war.

I remember when this was a NATO base. I remember being shocked when they shut it down - can't have been more than maybe 6 or 7 years ago. It looks a lot different now, and the base housing has been turned into very nice apartments, each building colored a different bright color.