About to Order My 1st Kilt

[brewerpaul]

I have two of the Stillwater Economy wool Black Watch kilts and like them both very much. One is used quite often as a daily wear, as one might wear jeans. The other I keep for nice when I want to wear a Black Watch tartan. The main difference between the economy and heavy weight will be the amount of material used. When I bought the economy I was told the wool is the same weight as the heavyweight, and it is. I can easily compare the fabric to the heavyweight Saffron kilt I have from Stillwater. The main difference will be the actual weight of the kilt and the pleat depth. Neither kilt has horsehair stabilizer in the waist but they do have a liner. As stated by ratspike the pleats are not cut out around the waist hence no stabilizer. With the economy kilt you have less bulk back there but I have never felt my Saffron to be too bulky even though it is a heavyweight. Obviously more material in the pleats means more swish but I feel the economy always looks and swishes quite nicely. Guess it comes down to do you want to spend the extra 60 or so dollars for a bit more yardage and deeper pleats.

Picture always are proof. Here I am in my daily economy camping in Colorado Springs making a breakfast of hashbrowns, haggis and eggs.



Here is the back of the kilt showing the pleating to stripe



Same trip doing some hiking in the Garden of the Gods



Just today I got compliments wearing that same kilt while at the farmers market and my local Ace hardware store. Last night I had my nicer one on going to my local brewpub for a beer. Two ladies were outside and one said "How wonderful". She asked where I came from and I told her my car then had to tell her this is how I dress normally. She and her friend were quite impressed and happy to see a gent in a kilt.

Two last photos of when I got these kilts and tossed one on for a couple of photos




Bottom line it is a nice kilt for the money, it isnt a tank, they do look nice for a first time kilt or pub kilt and they also dress up nicely too. I dont think I have a reason to "upgrade" and buy the heavyweight because I wouldnt gain much in the process.

[Mathew MacKillop]

So it is DONE!

I ended up going for the economy; the more I thought about it the less having 8 yards of wool swinging about my waist appealed to me. We've already had some days of nearly 30 degrees C, and with the coming summer months and ridiculous humidity, the lighter option seemed best not only for my budget, but for my comfort. This also gives me time to save some dough for a USAKilts 8 yarder in time for winter.

Thanks All!

[Mathew MacKillop]

Order has arrived today. Going to pick it up with a friend who know more about such things than I do. Will get pics; check back this evening if curious!

For the curious: It was ordered on a Saturday, and notification was received that Stillwater has shipped it by the Monday afternoon. On Thursday last week it arrived in northern Vermont, and from there was sent onwards to Montreal, arriving at the local pick up point this morning. So, in all, 9 business days (including today) with a day lost waiting for it to be redirected. Not bad!

[Mike_Oettle]

Well, Matthew, you are kilted at last!
But the real clincher will be when you have one in McKillop. That is one crackerjack tartan.

[Mathew MacKillop]

Well, Matthew, you are kilted at last!
But the real clincher will be when you have one in McKillop. That is one crackerjack tartan.

That will be a day in the far future...so far as I can discover, the MacKillop tartan is not currently available and would be a custom weave. Not sure that I will ever have the income level to support that sort of project. I might just have to "settle" for the MacDonald of Keppoch instead.

Pictures will also be posted shortly of my first try-on and again later with the suit jacket a friend kindly turned into a kilt kut for me. Stay tuned.

[Mathew MacKillop]

Here are the pics.

[Mike S]

Nice. Those jacket cuffs will definitely need to be shortened.

[freddie]

Nice looking kilt and a good length. It really suites you. BTW I have family called McPhilips and I can see the resemblance!

[Mathew MacKillop]

Nice. Those jacket cuffs will definitely need to be shortened.

Was thinking so, too, but then....

If my arms are in any position than straight down, the cuffs end up partway up my forearms. With my arms straight out, they end up 3 or 4 inches above my wrists. If I were to shorten them anymore, the cuffs would be sliding all the way up to my elbows and back as I move about. Not sure what the best solution here is.

[Mike S]

If the cuffs land anywhere below your knuckles at the most extreme of preferences (most prefer them to land just at or slightly below the wrist), as is the case with your jacket, then they definitely need shortening.