Anyone know someone who makes kilted skirts?

[Arnot]

One has to wonder how much NHS tartan has been actually sold? It is not a tartan that has been universally popular around NHS Scotland. We have had this discussion before Doc, and nothing has apparently changed since then. You never know, the weavers may give you a whole bolt of that cloth? To make space for other more popular tartans.

I don't know if it's the same tartan, but I made a kilt for a gentleman a while back in NHS Grampian tartan. This one is selling at least a bit.

[Jock Scot]

I don't know if it's the same tartan, but I made a kilt for a gentleman a while back in NHS Grampian tartan. This one is selling at least a bit.

I have no idea Troy, purely at a guess, its probably the same tartan, but I am happy to stand corrected, if necessary.

[jsrnephdoc]

I would be mildly interested to hear the result of that discussion. Purely out of interest, nothing more.

My totally uninformed guess is that what's happened is that the nurses who birthed the project have lost interest. Again, just a wild guess, but if ever I learn more, I'll lengthen this thread, and of COURSE I'll post a picture if it features my spouse smiling in a kilted skirt!

[jsrnephdoc]

I don't know if it's the same tartan, but I made a kilt for a gentleman a while back in NHS Grampian tartan. This one is selling at least a bit.

They're not the same. The NHS "Grampian" tartan was registered in the late 20th century (I'll guess while "Grampian" was a legally designated region. Much darker blues. Much less "feminine" in my Y-chromosome-contaminated opinion.

[Pleater]

oups - sorry @jsrnephdoc - I have been busy morrising and missed your response. The joys of a life spent dancing.

I'm not able to help I'm afraid. I have sold to the states in the past, but these days it is very difficult - particularly anything woollen is subject to tariffs and since the lower limit for attention dropped to zero, things have got a bit fraught.

Our post office stopped accepting parcels to the US as everything backed up, so I could not send a knitted fisher gansey in time to avoid it being charged for so like many small businesses I know, normal service is suspended until the times alter.

If the repeat is small then putting two into each pleat might be an option, or perhaps into alternate pleats. Lambswool would not be a good idea at all as it is rather too soft to take a pleat.

Anne the Pleater

[jsrnephdoc]

oups - sorry @jsrnephdoc - I have been busy morrising and missed your response. The joys of a life spent dancing.

I'm not able to help I'm afraid. I have sold to the states in the past, but these days it is very difficult - particularly anything woollen is subject to tariffs and since the lower limit for attention dropped to zero, things have got a bit fraught.

Our post office stopped accepting parcels to the US as everything backed up, so I could not send a knitted fisher gansey in time to avoid it being charged for so like many small businesses I know, normal service is suspended until the times alter.

If the repeat is small then putting two into each pleat might be an option, or perhaps into alternate pleats. Lambswool would not be a good idea at all as it is rather too soft to take a pleat.

Anne the Pleater

Actually, you've been QUITE helpful. You've reinforced others' suggestions that I not join two shawls together to sew the garment unless I could assure that they were identical (for purposes of correct repetition of the sett. and that I not use soft lambswool fabric for a pleated garment.

Measuring my wife's shawl, however, I DID discover that it's worsted wool, but quite light weight. Neither Gordon Nicolson Kiltmaker nor Lochcarron Mills publish what weight of fabric they're using, however.

And the tariffs! I've established a friendly email relationship with a principal at a Highlands attire retailer in Glasgow. They no longer even ATTEMPT to publish prices in US dollars for their products.

By the way, what is "morrising? My spell checker doesn't know.

[geomick]

spellcheckers aren't smart enough to understand the verb for morris dancing

[Pleater]

It is perhaps an American spell checker and the subtleties of arcane English tradition are lost on it - I had to transfer into American English for the meaning of 'quite helpful' which is significantly different - we'd probably use most helpful, if that helps.

I was wondering if you might be better off finding a good quality woollen fabric in one colour, to go with the tartan you seek, either a darker tone of one of the main colours or something which compliments it. Your wife would then get a high quality skirt - or even two, to wear with the shawl. Add in a handful of different blouses and maybe a carefully chosen jersey or two and you'd certainly be high in the approval ratings. Not implying that you aren't already, of course.

Anne the Pleater