Thanks Ham,

You are blessed to have so many kiltmakers about Great Britain. Over here in the colonies we have but a few. If you haven't checked out Kathy's website please do www.kathyskilts.com

She came up through love of the kilt, Olive MacCaskill Bell, and Mae Livermore, then was recruited by Robert McBain. She was the first American to attend the Keith Kilt School in Keith Scotland. She won the Scottish Qualifications Authority Award in Traditional Hand Craft and Kiltmaking Skills.

After being trained by Robert McBain she went back for more a few years ago and learned traditional military box pleat kiltmaking.

Of course she's a member of the Traditional Kiltmaker's Guild.

We are so lucky to have her nearby in Albuquerque, NM. In addition to her skills she's a delightful lady. Was fortunate enough to visit her home and work area and meet her husband last June. Met her again in Flagstaff at the highland games in July.

She's sewn up two traditional tanks for me so far and will be the one sewing up my X Marks the Scot traditional when the fabric arrives.

This kilt, is my first 16oz Strome. The first was lighter since that's the only way the tartan was available. I am in LOVE with the quality, the swing, of this new kilt. I took a chance that I could sit on it so long and have it still look like it was just off the hanger. It was.

The weight is not a burdon when wearing it and it held well in the very high winds of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The only time the wind got it was when I was backed up against the railing of an overlook point and the wind came right up my backside a la Marilyn Monroe. But even then the kilt held...nothing was exposed...only the expectations of the onlookers were excited.

Back to Kathy, what I have most enjoyed about her other than the high quality of her finished work is that she knows her mills well and is able to locate and have made a rare tartan like Macdonald of Kingsburgh woven for me.

Ron