Hello,

It is only appropriate that my first post be an introduction. That way when I post elsewhere people can come here and learn a bit about me if they are so inclined.

I am what some folks call a "Florida Cracker," that means I was born and raised in Florida. I am of Scot/Irish descent on my father's side and donned my first kilt more than 15 years ago at my brother's wedding. He selected a feilidh-mor in Stewart Black for all the groomsmen. That is when I learned how comfortable they can be (even with all that extra material belted to you).

However, it wasn't until early this year that I started wearing kilts on a regular basis. In the interviening years I would donn the feilidh-mor for festivals, fairs and costume parties, and wear a Thrifty Kilt around the house. All that changed in January when I found contemporary kilts.

It has been interesting, to say the least, getting my friends and wife accustomed to it, but I'm getting there. I ordered a Utilikilt, attempted to build something like it (that one is now my boatbuilding kilt), and then decided to follow some instructions and built an X-Kilt. Now, in addition to my Boat Builder's Virus, I think I have "Kilt Builder's Virus" (or whatever the kilted community calls it). Not only do I have plans to build an X-Kilt for a friend, I have plans to build a traditional styled kilt in sand colored twill and another X-Kilt for myself. If that's not enough, I have aspirations of building a box-pleated tartan kilt too.

Which leads me to why I decided to join the forum. I ordered a copy of "The Art of Kiltmaking" and Barb told me about the forum and asked me to share pictures of the kilt I am building next. I must admit that I already knew about the forum, but it was the encouragement I needed to join. So here I am.