A beautiful new Kilt.

[Jock Scot]

I will simply say "bravo". A void has been refilled.

Beautiful kilt John.

I dunno Simon one minute old EB is lurking away saying nothing to any one, then what happens? We get a post from him that has more words than a volume of an encyclopedia! It must get a tad lonely in that "dog house", do you think?

So EB, how many more kilts do you reckon you will need before enough is enough? Just wondering .

[English Bloke]

Now there's a question... If Mrs EB were to give you an answer she'd tell you we've overstepped that mark a long while ago. As for me? I think we're probably there now 'cause I can't afford a bigger house. I've no intentions of surpassing the inimitable Hamish anyway.

[English Bloke]

Thought you might like to see the other two...

The first is a made to measure, handsewn, 8 yard, 16oz (Strome) kilt in Northumberland Tartan (also known as Falkirk Check, Shepherd Check, Border check or Border Riever tartan). It's arguably the oldest of tartans and has been speculatively dated to 260AD. It has also long been associated with shepherds of the Border region who were encouraged to move north after the Highland clearances.

I chose it because my Mother was a Northumbrian, as was her Dad... (my Grandmother was Scottish). She was a crackin' Lady and as well as being mee mum, she was one of my best mates!! I wear this Kilt with great pride.

No need to ponder over pleating options this time... It's just pleated to the tiny weeny squares.

Some pictures for your delectation.


Basting stitches still in. 35 pleats and a reverse pleat in the back of this kilt. I specifically requested Carol to put as many pleats in as possible, which she did although I suspect it was a difficult task to keep everything lined up.


Front aprons. The Kilt is triple fringed.


Top of the pleats.


The hand stitching is invisible.


The straps and belt loops disappear into the background.

It fits perfectly and draws many compliments from people when I wear it. It's unusual and some of my English friends find it difficult to understand it's a proper tartan and Kilt and not some tweedy skirt. I've also had the comment that it would look lovely in a twin-set with pearls and American tan tights. but you don't want to know what I said back to HIM!

This is what it looks like on...


It is a work of art. I'm very pleased with it.

[English Bloke]

So... Being quite struck by the apparent greyness of the Northumberland (from a distance at least), I decided I liked it most muchly! So much so, I wanted more!

I also have a black kilt. It's the first one I ever bought and is a HoS Acrylic / PV. I washed it in the washing machine shortly after getting it and made the big mistake of using fabric conditioner in the rinse. It made the fabric lovely and soft but not at all kilt like. It now feels a bit like pyjamas.

I've been keen to replace it with a better one. Rather than plain black, I chose "Black Isle" because it's one of those natty shadow tartans but not sooo shadowy that you need to shine torches onto it to pick out the sett. This too is a handsewn 16oz (Jura).

The resulting garment is a beauty!!


This is a close up of the tartan. The Kilt appears plain black at first glance but in certain light the Tartan stands out.


Laid out. Basting stitches still in. That's what the little white thready bits are on the left hand side of the picture.


Lining and straps


Triple fringe


Buckles


All hand sewn.


And this is what it looks like on... I'm rather chuffed with this one too.

[OC Richard]

Bravo indeed, that is a gorgeous kilt!

I really, really like that tartan. It's like Isle of Skye in that it somehow simultaneously 1) has a distinct look and 2) has an "old" or "traditional" feel to it. A tartan they might have woven in the 18th century, but didn't.

In general I prefer pleating to the stripe, but I think you're quite right about this tartan. When I imagine what it would look like pleated to the pink line, or the blue line, it looks weak. It might look good pleated to that fat blue stripe, but it violates 'proper' pleating principles, as I understand them. (The way I had my Isle of Skye violated these principles but I did it anyway.)

About your struggles to acquire that fabric, it's fairly typical, unfortunately, and reminds me when an old friend decided to open a Highland Outfitter shop. He had owned a car repair business here (in California) for many years and had got used to the way that business operates. When he needed something he called his supplier. The supplier would ship it out in time to make that day's overnight. The next morning the supplier would phone HIM and ask him if he had received the part. If not, the supplier would overnight another, no questions, no charge. In other words, he would receive whatever he had ordered in less than 24 hours.

Well now, then he decides to open a Highland Outfitter and starts ordering things from various Scottish companies, several of the leading names in tartan, sporrans, bagpipes, etc. It was quite a shock. Keep in mind this is back in the 1980s and things are done over the phone and through the post. This guy would send an order to a major Scottish firm, with full payment in British Pounds, and wait and wait. He would call from time to time and get all sorts of excuses. Certain excuses seemed to crop up repeatedly from various firms, his favourite being the "Canadian postal strike" one (odd because none of the things he received from Scotland were routed through Canada but came direct). At times he was lied to, the firms telling him they were out of stock of something while they were supplying the same thing to other retailers promptly. No he was not a grouch or difficult to deal with, he was a very friendly guy who dealt with everyone honestly. Anyhow he got used to waiting at least six months for anything.

[English Bloke]

... Anyhow he got used to waiting at least six months for anything...

I'm with you there. It seems we British are not as focused on service as North Americans.

[Riverkilt]

'tis a beautiful tartan for sure. Welcome to the small fraternity of Dutch Friendship Tartan kilt owners. The tartan is more beautiful than the lens can capture and the monitor can display. I love hiking the tourist trails in mine and every now and then meet Dutch tourists and I get to explain the tartan to them.



I found this pair of crossed flags on the Internet and added them to my kilt pin for the Dutch Friendship tartan.



You'll find yourself choosing to wear that tartan often. Enjoy.

[McClef]

Lovely Dutch tartan and what a great choice of pin too given the accession of Willem Alexander to the throne of the Netherlands.

Might also get you a few quid off on tickets to André Rieu concerts!

[rsvpiper]

Tidy John very tidy

[guardsman]

Got to meet you oneday , 35kilts! Yer a maniac