full blown gonzo confused

[Sherry]

Thanks, SB. I was wondering how the hem looks on the synthetic fabric, tho'. I know on the wool, the stitches get lost in the fabric quite nicely. I wouldn't want any obvious stitching to show on the Nightstalker.


Sherry

[Southern Breeze]

I have both Blackwatch and the solid black.I used matching thread and its not noticable. The stiches blend in very well. If it helps, I used thread that wasn't "shiney". I have both the wool and synthetic fabrics, but I can't tell any difrence in the fabrics ability to hide stiches.

[David Thornton]

You're with holding information Adam. What did you order & who from?

I was just sitting here looking at Cameron of Lochiel for another 5 yard.

David

[Barb T]

A _traditional_ kilt is supposed to come to the _top_ of the kneecap, not to mid-knee. Many people wear their kilts to mid-knee, but it is not correct for a trad kilt.

Barb

[arrogcow]

Have not ordered anything yer, but going with the 5 yard from scottishkilts.net, braveheart tartan.

Barb, I know the person you apprenticed with apprenticed at Thomas Gordon herself. Did the guy there sell me a kilt that was too long? At the time I bought it, I knew much less about kilts than I do now, but I'm fairly happy with the length as it is still on my knee. Your opinion?

Adam

[Blu (Ontario)]

A _traditional_ kilt is supposed to come to the _top_ of the kneecap, not to mid-knee. Many people wear their kilts to mid-knee, but it is not correct for a trad kilt.

Barb

Thanks for the validation on that point, Barb... to You know, the kiltmakers I've purchased kilts from in the past have always measured for the kilt to fall to mid-knee, but I actually think it looks better at the top of the knee.

[Barb T]

When you say that the length of your kilt is 25", do you mean from the top of the kilt to the bottom or from the center of the buckle to the bottom? The measurement for kilt length is actually from the center of the buckle to the bottom, because there's always a rise above the waist on a trad kilt, and, although the rise is most commonly 2", it can be more or less than that. So, when you measure length for a kilt, a kiltmaker will expect waist (center of buckle) to bottom and then add the rise. So, your tank might actually be for a 23" length plus a 2" rise. That would make more sense for someone who is 5'9" tall (a 25" length plus a 2" rise would be mighty long for most people that height).

Ok. Now, is your trad kilt too long? If it hits below the top of your knee cap when you're wearing it, that's not right. But, then again, maybe you're not wearing it right. A trad kilt is made to be buckled really tight with the buckles (not the top of the kilt) at your true waist, which is much higher than most men except Farmer John wear their trews. So, the next thing to check is how you're wearing your kilt. If you have it buckled high enough and tight enough, and it _still_ hits you below the top of the knee cap, it is, indeed, too long.

So! I'm dying to know which it is!

Here's how to measure for the length of a trad kilt (this is _minus_ the rise). Locate your natural waist (if you bend sideways, it's where your side goes in) - it's not right at the belly button but close. Measure from there down your thigh to the top of your knee cap. Be sure that someone else does this for you and that you are looking _straight ahead_ when they make the measurement. If you're looking down, the measurement will be too short. Another way to get an accurate length measurement is to have someone kneel down, mark a line on the knee cap 1" up from the floor, have the person stand up again, and measure from the top of the _hip bone_ to the middle of the knee. Turns out to be almost exactly what you'd get from waist to top of knee cap. If you have someone kneel down, and you measure from waist to floor, the kilt will invariably be too long.

Cheers!

Barb

[Barb T]

Thanks for the validation on that point, Barb... to You know, the kiltmakers I've purchased kilts from in the past have always measured for the kilt to fall to mid-knee, but I actually think it looks better at the top of the knee.

Yup, I agree. When the kilt comes to mid-knee, there's virtually nothing between the top of the kilt hose and the bottom of the kilt. Looks weird.

B

[James]

No longer than top of knee-or it looks like a certain garment worn by ladies.

The kilt is to be swaggered in, and you cannot swagger in an overly long one.

Also any longer and it will chafe legs in wet weather.

James

[arrogcow]

When you say that the length of your kilt is 25", do you mean from the top of the kilt to the bottom or from the center of the buckle to the bottom? The measurement for kilt length is actually from the center of the buckle to the bottom, because there's always a rise above the waist on a trad kilt, and, although the rise is most commonly 2", it can be more or less than that. So, when you measure length for a kilt, a kiltmaker will expect waist (center of buckle) to bottom and then add the rise. So, your tank might actually be for a 23" length plus a 2" rise. That would make more sense for someone who is 5'9" tall (a 25" length plus a 2" rise would be mighty long for most people that height).

OK measuring that way my Tank is 23" with a 2" rise, and the StillWater is 22 3/4" with a 1 1/2" rise (info for those of you looking at SW's kilts). As I said, my tank hits right at mid knee, so I guess they sold me one that was just a hair long since it was close.

So if I tell Scottishkilts.net that I want a 22 1/2" kilt I will actually get one that is 24 1/2" from top to bottom?

Adam

Adam