Kilt order wait time! :?

[flyrod6057]

I ordered my 16oz MacLean at the beginning of July (from the shop in Portland) with the understanding that it would be 8-12 weeks before delivery. At the 8 week mark, I began calling to check the status of the kilt and was given numerous reassurances that it would be on time. Then...at the 10 week mark, I received a call that the 16oz MacLean tartan was not in stock, and that Locharron wouldn't have any until late November. (Why in the hell would a kiltmaker wait ten weeks to say, "OH! By the way...your tartan isn't available, and I didn't have any time in my schedule to check with the mill! Sorry!" ) So...I changed mills. Marton was out, too, but they were going to have it back in stock in late September. Thus, I went with MM. In early October my kilt was delivered, but it was improperly pleated! You see, I had ordered it pleated to the line, but the one delivered was pleated to the sett. So, it was sent back. The replacement kilt was made-start to finish-over a weekend, and delivered to me about a week after the first one. (Why didn't we do that in the first place?) Total time from order to delivery: 4 months. The kilt looks and fits great. I could have done without the drama.

Lessons learned:

1. When working with kiltmakers overseas, be patient.

2. Remember: no one cares as much about your new kilt as you do. Not the kiltmaker; not the mill; not the shop you ordered it from.

3. It doesn't take 8 weeks to make a kilt. It takes a dunderhead like me about 2 weeks, and an accomplished kiltmaker can do it in a few days.

4. Making your own kilt is a great option if you lack patience like I do. It also costs about1/3 to 1/2 of what you'd pay a shop and you can work at whatever pace you like. No questions about quality, either...