To Pin or Not to Pin?

[SFCRick]

I wear a pin

[Splash_4]

To finish my above post... (click on images to enlarge)


This is a nice Celtic horse broach I found online and thought would make a smashing kilt pin.


Next, I clipped the pin off at it's mounting points (red arrow) and sanded the back smooth. In this particular pin I had to use an epoxy filler to bring the stainless washer even with the sides of the pin. Notice the size of the rare earth magnet I am using. I have found that using the cup to hold the magnet strengthens the bond to what you want it to adhere to and stops those stray attachments that some magnets form



This is a side view of the final pin. The red arrow points to the area that the kilt would sit. As you can see, this leaves the front smooth with the apron and the bulk of the magnet is on the back. This also has the advantage of making the pin a bit heavier and also helps in wind control.


I have done this to the majority of pins I own (and wear frequently!). However, not all of them use the round washer. Some, because of their design, get flat plates or molded pieces to fit them. I have yet to lose a pin or have it damage any of the kilts that they are affixed to.

[Santa Kona]

Great idea.

[sathor]

I use the oversized safety pin right now. I 'had' a dragon pin, but it kept snagging, and one of the two pins for it broke. It's somewhere in the bedroom now. I picked up the pin and a sigan (which I can never remember if I am spelling correctly) at a local festival last month. The clerk asked if I needed a bag, said nope, stuck the knife in my sock and the pin on my kilt. I bought 3 more light weight ones the next day at a different booth, one is on my desk, I think one is on my sons Irish National kilt, and I have no idea where the third one went. (3 / $2, so no complaining about that really)

[Scott West]

I always wear a pin on my tank (Buchanan Hunting Modern sewn by Lochcarron); the apron just seems naked without it. I recently replaced my day-to-day Buchanan sword style pin in favor of a round, silver Heatherstone celtic knotwork brooch of about 1.75" diameter. I did this to contemporize my look and downplay the "costume" affect.

[KiltedSoldier]

Seeing I have only been wearing Kilts for a few years, I have always worn a pin, except on my Ancient Kilt and Utilikilt. I have always seen a pin on a kilt.

[herminator]

Pins, one for each kilt.

So I need more kilts, the pins are waiting.

Mostly I take something I feel would look good as a kilt and add fasteners if necessary:

[Rex_Tremende]

I'm afraid my traditionalist credentials are currently under review, so my opinion probably doesn't count much, but I'll add that I enjoy wearing non-traditional pins with my traditional kilts. They usually have a story to tell - having been acquired as a memento from a trip, say, or are the result of the hunt for the perfect pin for a particular kilt. If I can't find something unique, a small work of a craftsman's art, I try to find something beautiful or whimsical.

Regards,
Rex.

[kennethrmc]

I always wear pins with my kilts because, well...it's fun! They are relatively inexpensive, and they offer more variety for putting together the whole outfit. I have "dressier" (Scots bling) and plainer (yes, the big safety pin) and pins that refer to different things (historical, spiritual, regional and clan associations). So far I've had no issues w/ holes showing up in the wool. For me wearing the pin is just another aspect of why I enjoy being kilted.

[Paul]

I wear a pin. For dress occasions I wear a 70s-made, sterling silver kilt pin with a political logo on it. Sometimes I wear my art pewter thistle kilt pin which is less shiny - but equally as attractive!
I've got a few others as well