4 Yard Kilt - Can it be formal?

**Shriner** · 13th August 07, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

I take it the gentleman on the right is a Lodge GM but looks like the sporran and the apron are having a battle for dominance.

McClef,

He is a Past Master of Brandon and Desota Lodge here in my area. We were doing a Masonic Funeral for a brother we knew. I have been trying to talk him into a new kilt because his does not fit right anymore, but when he was Master of Brandon Lodge he wore that kilt in the east for every meeting. I am not sure what is correct removing the sporran or putting the apron over the spooran. I know you can't put the sporran ontop the apron.

John

**McClef** · 13th August 07, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Shriner

McClef,

He is a Past Master of Brandon and Desota Lodge here in my area. We were doing a Masonic Funeral for a brother we knew. I have been trying to talk him into a new kilt because his does not fit right anymore, but when he was Master of Brandon Lodge he wore that kilt in the east for every meeting. I am not sure what is correct removing the sporran or putting the apron over the spooran. I know you can't put the sporran ontop the apron.

John

Well I hope you manage to persuade him to get a new kilt John!

I don't know what is correct either but I have seen Masonic processions in Scotland and those who were kilted wore their sporrans completely under the apron. Presumably this is to avoid clashes of dress when obviously the apron has the primary place in Masonic regalia and it's there in place ready to appear when the regalia is taken off.

**BEEDEE** · 13th August 07, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Bryan

So you are pleased with it then? May I ask the weight of the wool? I think it looks great and as I said before, according to Matt Newsome's great article on the 4-yard, it is THE original tailored kilt, albeit with the box pleats. I just don't get why the 8-yard is the end all be all in formal kilts. My tank is really nice, but I don't see a lot of difference between it and a 4-yard, except the pleats won't be AS deep.

Yes - very pleased. Kilt is 13 oz wool fro Marton Mills County Crest collection. Rocky had to order specially for this but he was a pleasure to work with through the process.

Brian

**Bryan** · 13th August 07, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by BEEDEE

Yes - very pleased. Kilt is 13 oz wool fro Marton Mills County Crest collection. Rocky had to order specially for this but he was a pleasure to work with through the process.

Brian

Does it have a good "swing" to it similar to an 8-yarder? i would think the heavier the wool, the better the "swing."

**MacWage** · 13th August 07, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

We need to help MacWage's kilt break out of it's shell a bit -- it's pleats are feeling repressed!

Ba-DUM-bum!

(Good one Matt)

As for the kilt:
Before:

After:

Oh, the WONDERS of an IRON and STEAM!!!!
(It even changed the COLORS of the jacket and hose!-> hurt a bit, though)

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 14th August 07, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by Bryan

Does it have a good "swing" to it similar to an 8-yarder? i would think the heavier the wool, the better the "swing."

Yes, the weight of the wool is a factor. But even more is the amount of cloth used. The reason a typical 8 yard kilt has all that "swish and swing" that we associate with the kilt is because of all the cloth in the pleats.

Both a 4 yard kilt and an 8 yard kilt have the same amount of cloth in the front aprons. The extra 4 yard that the 8 yarder has are all in the pleats. All this extra weight in the pleats makes them act as a pendulum when you walk, giving you the "swish." The more cloth, the more weight, the more swish.

So, while a 4 yarder certainly still swings, it doesn't swing as much as an 8 yarder will. On the other hand, the 4 yarder will be more balanced and comfortable to wear. They each have their advantages. The question is, what are your needs/desires/priorities in a kilt?

Have you seen this?
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=29086

**Barclay** · 14th August 07, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

.

Jamie -

I'm really starting to believe that you could wear a Hefty bag and make it look top shelf.

One thing that's not been mentioned that, in my opinion, is kind of important: being the owner of one 8-yarder and several 4-5 yarders, I simply find it too hot to wear the 8-yarder most of the year here in the south. In the dead of winter, it's fine. In August, not so much. Therefore I wear 4-5 yarders almost year round for all manners of function from lawn mowing to pub crawling to weddings and receptions.

Besides, most people (except we, the kilted elite, you know) would never recognize the difference.

As a side note, pertaining to Matt's comments, above, in normal walking the sway doesn't seem to be that noticeable. Swish and sway is something I'm quick to notice in parade, but it's not substantial to my eye in normal situations.

**Bryan** · 14th August 07, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Barclay

Jamie -

I'm really starting to believe that you could wear a Hefty bag and make it look top shelf.

One thing that's not been mentioned that, in my opinion, is kind of important: being the owner of one 8-yarder and several 4-5 yarders, I simply find it too hot to wear the 8-yarder most of the year here in the south. In the dead of winter, it's fine. In August, not so much. Therefore I wear 4-5 yarders almost year round for all manners of function from lawn mowing to pub crawling to weddings and receptions.

Besides, most people (except we, the kilted elite, you know) would never recognize the difference.

As a side note, pertaining to Matt's comments, above, in normal walking the sway doesn't seem to be that noticeable. Swish and sway is something I'm quick to notice in parade, but it's not substantial to my eye in normal situations.

I can definitely understand the heat factor. It's pretty chilly here at the moment, 107 degrees, brrrrrr....

I guess a 4-5 yarder would be great for our Highland Games here the first week of June. And I really can't tell the difference by looking at an 8 yard or a 4-5 yard just on sight. I just wasn't sure if it's PC to wear a 4-5 yarder in a formal situation.

Now I'm torn between knife-pleating and box-pleating. Joining this great site was supposed to help, but now it's made it worse...but in a good way!

**Colin** · 15th August 07, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Barclay

Jamie -

I'm really starting to believe that you could wear a Hefty bag and make it look top shelf.

Don't say these things to him. They go straight to his head. All we have heard about in the Mod section is how all these other kilt sites are using pictures of Jamie,etc,etc....Soon he'll be unable to get that swollen noggin' in the Zepplin.