Pre Kilt Kamp Grizzled Ian at RKilts shop

**seanachie** · 25th July 13, 08:22 PM

Ian:
You definitely picked a good hemp for your kilt. It is extremely comfortable and hides dirt and the like from weekend chores and while I have not put it to any extreme tests is very tough. What color did you choose for the leather?
You are a lucky man, I have oft wanted to meet Robert and visit his shop.

**Grizzled Ian** · 26th July 13, 08:28 AM

Day 2 on the job, Robert is being a most genial host and very generous with his time, and I really appreciate it. I observed to him that there could be half a dozen folk up here doing what I am doing under his tutelage, all turning out a kilt, but getting a real appreciation of the work that does go into a non-Pakistani contemporary kilt. He nodded, smiling. I think there might be a call to "watch this space" for anyone else interested in visiting this corner of Ontario and trying their hand (though Robert suggests fall~autumn or spring as being more pleasant).
Seanachie,
I chose brown leather and brass metal. I have a pair of long shorts at home made of hemp, possibly heavier than the hemp material Robert uses. Those shorts are just showing a bit of whitening where I sit on them, but they rub the back of my knees right where a kilt does, and I gave up wearing them because of that. I'll get them back out for summer this year, because I think they toughened the skin there for kilt-wearing. I bought them at a shop in Katoomba on the Blue Mountains that's closed now. It was called Mountain High!
EB, I never been in the Americas before, and I'm here for three weeks, pottering up and down the Appalachians in a hire car. Round the top of Lake Ontario tomorrow, back to Hamilton College in Clinton NY for the five day Kilt Kamp with Barb and Steve, then a quick whizz down to the western end of N Carolina to poke my head in at the Scottish Tartans Museum and pick up some e-shopping I have done at the shop there, then back to JFK via Rocky's USAKilts. I suppose the Ashes series is all wrapped up?

**Canuck** · 26th July 13, 11:21 AM

Ian is off to kilt Kamp wearing a new kilt he just finished today.

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Thanks for stopping by Ian, it was a wonderful visit and I enjoyed helping you make your kilt. Much success next week

**plaid preacher** · 26th July 13, 11:33 AM

looks great! Congratulations Ian.

**BCAC** · 26th July 13, 01:35 PM

Ian, I'm obviously not John (EB) but as for the Ashes, England are leading Australia 2-0 in the 5 test series, and the third test starts on the 1st of August, at Manchester.

**cessna152towser** · 26th July 13, 01:42 PM

Ian is off to kilt Kamp wearing a new kilt he just finished today.

Success.
Thanks for an interesting report.

**Grizzled Ian** · 26th July 13, 09:31 PM

Many thanks to Robert, I'm wearing a very comfortable garment, and not looking forward to taking it off at bedtime.
Anyone thinking of making the journey to Stratford will, I am sure, find it a rewarding visit. Robert has an interesting array of machines and tools, and I am fortunate that he trusted me to have a go with some of them. Competent machine sewers will appreciate the Pfaff that Robert uses for sewing hemp kilts, and Thumper was a lot of fun too.
Overall, my visit to Canada has been a very positive experience.
BCAC, thanks, I'd lost track of when the 3rd Test starts.

**grizz** · 27th July 13, 10:42 PM

Robert's a magician morphing someone who doesn't sew into a kilt-maker. You're indefatigable Grizzled Ian. Thanks for posting pics. We hope Barb's kilt-making camp is equally rewarding.

No Ashes cheer for ye but your Brumbies beat Bulls in South Africa 26 v. 23 and are through to the finals v. Chiefs next Saturday in Hamilton NZ!

**Jon Lilley** · 3rd August 13, 07:04 PM

I love the pictures, Ian! I didn't know you actually helped make the kilt you wore. Very impressive! I've never seen such a comfortable looking and stylish contemporary kilt! I'll put up pictures of Kilt Kamp soon. I still feel like I'm on the road and I've been home a day already. I guess I need another glass of wine or something. LOL! I dunne ken.

Safe travels, OK?

@Robert -- Beautiful work! I was especially impressed by the pull-out leather straps to hold things. The color of hemp material was perfect with the leather, IMHO. Ian wore it with pride, too!