Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
Thank you, John. I did not know that. Is there some reason that kiltmakers who do machine stitching don't include reinforcement? I'm guessing it's because perhaps normal sewing machines can't handle punching through the extra thickness of material.

If the hand-stitching means better performance due to this additional reinforcement, then perhaps it is something I should take into consideration. These are the kinds of details I was hoping to get, in order to truly be able to determine how each kiltmaker's price corresponds to the quality.
Actually the reinforcing and lining is blind stitched to inside of the kilt after the pleating is finished. Stitching lines from sewing machines would show if they were used to stitch the lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt, so some makers don't use it which results in a lower quality kilt overall.

Other makers though machine stitch the pleats in and then hand stitch the same lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt as an entirely hand-stitched kilt would have. The results of this "hybrid" style of kilt are exceptionally close to a hand stitched masterpiece with around half the required amount of hand stitching.