13 oz kilts

[Nathan]

So I recently picked up this 13oz MacDonald of Clanranald modern kilt online for a fantastic price. Although I already have a 16oz kilt in the same tartan, this one is clearly from another mill. I like that the centre line chosen on the apron is different from my other kilt.

This kilt was originally sold by Kirk Wynd out of Kirkcaldy and St. Andrew but I can't identify the mill. The thread count and pigment differ from my Locharron strome, certainly.

New kilt front


New kilt back


inside




New kilt sett close up for the resident experts


The new kilt is the one on the right, without the kilt pin. The lamp was to the left so the colours aren't as dark as they appear in the photo.



both are obviously pleated to the sett.


Aside from wanting to share my latest acquisition with the Rabble, I wanted to know a few things.

This is my first 13 oz kilt. I'm assuming this is an 8 yard kilt but I don't know for certain. Would I take a tape measure and open each pleat to find out or is their an easier way?

This kilt is very light and very comfortable. Should I be worried about a Marilyn Monroe type incident with a kilt this light? It's so different from what I'm used to.

I understand that the weight of the wool is personal preference and that this is a traditional kilt that is as appropriate for formal occasions as my 16oz. Am I correct?

Does anyone want to venture a guess at the mill?

[Nathan]

Upon reflection, perhaps I should have posted this to "The Tartan Place" sub-forum. Hopefully it's ok here, but if not, apologies to the moderators.

[RockyR]

What is the sett size of the new one in 13 oz?

[Nathan]

What is the sett size of the new one in 13 oz?

Good question Rocky! Is that not clear from the photos? If not, how would I determine that exactly? I wear these things, but I don't make them like my brother or yourself so please excuse my ignorance.

[chasem]

Sett size is hard to judge in pictures. Simply use a ruler or tape measure to measure from one line on the tartan to the next repeat of the same line (for example, center of the blue block to the next center of a blue block on that MacDonald tartan).

On tartans with similar but different blocks (black watch based tartans, for example), one must make sure to go a full repeat of the tartan, rather than just "the next line of that color." Or on your MacDonald - start with a white line and skip one when measuring so that you measure from the first to the third white line.

If that second paragraph's wording causes confusion, ignore it and just follow the instructions in the first paragraph

[Nathan]

If I understood the instructions correctly, the 13 oz is 7.25" and the 16 oz is 7.5".

edit:
I did take the tape out and measure along the bottom of the kilt from the fringe all the way along to the under apron including the bit that's folded over and sewn. My measurements came out to 6 yards and change. I've never heard of a six yard knife pleat kilt. Is this considered an 8 yarder even if there was some left over due to waist size?

[sailortats]

[/quote]
This kilt is very light and very comfortable. Should I be worried about a Marilyn Monroe type incident with a kilt this light? It's so different from what I'm used to.

I understand that the weight of the wool is personal preference and that this is a traditional kilt that is as appropriate for formal occasions as my 16oz. Am I correct?
[/QUOTE]
In heavier winds you probably will need to keep your arms down against the kilt but on an ordinary day I have never had a problem with my 13oz kilts doing a Marilyn.
And yes you are correct a 13oz kilt is just as appropriate as a 16oz kilt for any formal occasion.