Review: Skye Highland Outfitters 8 yard PV - X Marks the Scot

bricekolob · #1 03-12-2010, 09:55 PM

Well, it is finally time. I received my 8 yard pv kilt from Skye Highland Outfitters yesterday.

Their website: www.skyehighlandoutfitters.com

I have owned 3 different kilts before this one: Two eBay kilts which I ended up selling and a USAK casual. Knowing that, you can take my review for what you think it is worth. It is based on the experience with those kilts.

First, it is a fantastic fit. I have never had any of my kilts fit as well as this one does. There is not pleat flipping on the left side which I had on every other of my kilts. It could not fit any better.

The kilt has the standard 3 buckles along with the fringed apron. It does not have any of the belt loops that some kilts do. Josh asked me if I wanted them but I told him no. I have never found those to be of any use anyways. Either way, it was awesome of him to ask and offer to add them. This is another example of great customer service.

Josh also sent me some left over fabric, for free. I am going to use some of it make some tartan flashes to match the kilt. The way I see it, that saved me about 25-30 dollars. That is what other places charge for the tartan flashes.

I am really not sure what else you would like to know. To me, this kilt looks fantastic and feels even better. That was exactly what I was looking for in my new kilt. Plus, at 189.00, it can not be beat! I am not sure of any other place that will get you a custom made 8 yard PV for that price.

If you have any other things you want to know about, just post the question and I will be happy to answer. I wearing the kilt with a silver fox sporran. Here are the final pics of me in the kilt:

I would highly recommend this kilt to anyone looking for an 8 yard PV.

billmcc · #2 03-12-2010, 10:02 PM

Congrats on the new kilt.

By the way, I noticed SHO is now offering the Maple Leaf tartan in pv.

Riverkilt · #3 03-12-2010, 10:17 PM

Yes, always curious about a new vendor's efforts. 8 yards seems a bit more than one would expect from a PV kilt...curious about that. Know the term is often used loosely since waist sizes vary and pleat depths vary with the demands of the sett or stripe.

Would be curious to know how many pleats, what depth, and what the reveal is - again understanding the demands of the sett change them...just curious about this kilt. Difficult to get a good look because the Clark tartan is so busy to my aging eye.

Also curious about the thread. Know this is a PV kilt, but my hand sewn kiltmaker is very very dedicated to the perfect thread - which she buys in either Great Britain or Germany as available. More interested along the line of what thread color was chosen, or was a clear poly used. Difficult to choose one color thread when sewing through the different colors of a tartan.

And curious about the kilt bottom. Can see its not a fringe, but can't tell if its the traditional selvege edge or if its hemmed.

Also noticed the kilt strap buckle seems "different" and larger than what one usually sees. Is there a story there, or just the camera angle or flash reflection.

You were keen on the fit, but the pics show the lower right kilt strap apparently in the last buckle hole? Or did you just toss it on in enthusiasm and not have a chance to balance out the kilt straps yet.

Jeez, guess I am curious about some stuff.

Thanks

NorCalPiper · #4 03-12-2010, 11:10 PM

The kilt is part machine / part hand stitched. Thread used is gutermann matched as close as possible to the dominant color. All our PV's are hemmed-Its MY opinion that frayed selvage looks horrible (I know there are a lot who like it, so I don't mean to step on toes with my opinion), so I decided that hemming would have to be a must if there was not a kilting selvage (Some of the PV have it). We buy all our buckles and straps from kiltmaker2007 on ebay. They are all proper kilting buckles that are the same size. Here are some closer pics

....We pleat according to the instructional book that everyone on this forum should own, but its noteworthy to mention that PV has a smaller set. We have a technique for balancing the pleat depths so you have a really gorgeous swing and not an accordion effect due to multiple shallow pleats.

Hope that helps. If anyone has any direct questions, I have to take them off-thread since I'm not a paying vendor on this forum.

Riverkilt · #5 03-12-2010, 11:38 PM

Thanks for jumping in Josh. I've learned something new. I've many contemporary kilts (Freedom Kilts, Utilikilts, Pittsburgh Kilts, AmeriKilts etc.) with hemmed bottoms. Of course my hand sewn wool kilts are all selvedge edge. I only have PV kilts from USA Kilts and of course they use the selvedge edge or fringe - depending upon how Marton Mills runs the cloth. Don't recall ever seeing a hem on a tartan kilt.

And thanks for the tread and buckle info...sometimes impossible to tell from the monitor rather than being able to eyeball the kilt.

Maybe Brice can answer about the length. Just measured one of my semi-trads and it was 20' of material, just under 7 yards. As mentioned above I know "8 yards" is a term that doesn't necessarily mean exactly 8 yards...just still curious about the length, pleat depth, and reveal. Not to compare kiltmakers but rather to get a feel for this kilt.

Thanks

Paul · #6 03-13-2010, 03:52 AM

Wow, what a beauty!

bricekolob · #7 03-13-2010, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Yes, always curious about a new vendor's efforts. 8 yards seems a bit more than one would expect from a PV kilt...curious about that. Know the term is often used loosely since waist sizes vary and pleat depths vary with the demands of the sett or stripe.

You were keen on the fit, but the pics show the lower right kilt strap apparently in the last buckle hole? Or did you just toss it on in enthusiasm and not have a chance to balance out the kilt straps yet.

I am not sure why you are curious here. My perception was why would you use only 6-7 yards?? Why not go the full 8? The reason I like it is because I probably will not buy an 8 yard wool kilt. I know that might be blasphemy to some

. After buying a casual wool, I decided they are a bit to warm for me. It is a personal thing. When I choose my clothes for work or play, I make sure they will not make me hot. I never wear sweaters or long sleave shirts. Wool is just too warm for me. That is just me. That is why I like the 8 yard PV. I have the look of a traditional kilt (for the most part) without the weight and warmth of one.

About the last buckle: I did put it in the last hole. I also did throw it on very quickly. However I had this kilt made with the idea in mind that I will lose an inch or so around the waist. It is a touch small for that reason. In the past year I have gone from a 39 to a 37. I plan on having that to a 36.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Maybe Brice can answer about the length. Just measured one of my semi-trads and it was 20' of material, just under 7 yards. As mentioned above I know "8 yards" is a term that doesn't necessarily mean exactly 8 yards...just still curious about the length, pleat depth, and reveal. Not to compare kiltmakers but rather to get a feel for this kilt.

Thanks

I am not very familiar with kilt making terms, so I will let Josh and his PV kilt maker answer these questions.

Obviously, it could be a little less then 8 yards or it could be more. I am not exactly sure. However, since it seems as though you are comparing to your semi from USAK, let me share this with you. In a different thread I had some help from some of the members here in figuring out how many pleats I would get with a USAK semi (I was going to purchase one at that time). They informed me that at my size I would end up with about 20-21 pleats. That sounds about right with a 6-6.5 yard kilt. So with 29 pleats, I am guessing that puts me at about 7.5-8 yards. However, this is ALL just a guess. I will let Josh chime in about it.

Honestly, I am not worried about the amount of material. I just wanted the high number of pleats that you usually only get on an 8 yarder. I have that so I am very happy.

creagdhubh · #8 03-13-2010, 07:50 AM

Congrats and it looks pretty good. Call me a purist, but I would never purchase anything but an 8 yard, 16 ounce, worsted wool kilt, cut from the selvedge, either half width or double width depending on the mill producing the tartan and also the tartan itself (with 8 yards, and with my kilts being pleated to the line, you tend to end up with a lot of pleats and a wonderful, absolutely bang on "swing" that is definitely the hallmark of a high quality, properly made kilt). Your kilt looks great, and by no means am I "knocking" it, I am just simply stating my experience with the 4 kilts I currently own, and how I choose to wear them-really based upon the traditions of my father, grandfather, great-grandfather and so on, as they have worn the kilt in the same fashion. It would be unheard of for them to wear anything less than 8 yards, and sometimes even up to 9 yards at an 18 ounce, regimental weight! Of course, my grandfather and great-grandfather lived in Scotland, so I assume that is the reason why! To each is own!!! Well done on the purchase lad!

Riverkilt · #9 03-13-2010, 07:55 AM

Sorry to confuse -

The reason a kiltmaker wouldn't use the full 8 yards is that they start at one point, do the apron, then pleat to the demands of the tartan and the decision as to which of the many ways to pleat there are, then they size the kilt to the customer, then they finish with the underapron.

If there's extra material from the original 8 yards there's nothing to do with it. Can't just dangle there. Maybe that's why Josh sent you some extra material.

You have the kilt now, was just wondering how - with the Clark tartan and pleating decision, your pleats came out. Pretty easy to count them and stick a ruler under them to determine depth and reveal.

No need to do it. Just curious. And for sure don't wanna get Josh in trouble by dragging him in for questions.

I agree with you as to how well PV wears out here on our Colorado Plateau. Have purchased 25 PV kilts - I love them!

But when I'm outdoors and its snowing and windy cold I'm quick to don my wool or leather kilts over PV....just me. Your mileage may vary.

NorCalPiper · #10 03-13-2010, 09:10 AM

Wow Ron....You're all over the place. Just to clarify-We use 8 METERs of cloth, which equals 8.75 yards. So we're not stretching our length claims by saying 8 yards. I didn't mean my kilt to get you all worked up. I was hoping you'd enjoy it like the rest of the forum and maybe congratulate Brice, but I find your questioning curious. I understand that you're a child of depression era parents who instilled the importance of value to you, so I'm hoping that all these questions are because you see something of incredible value and quality that is priced less than what you've paid numerous times in the past for something similar . I might suggest that you contact the company that made this incredible kilt for further questioning and details.