Who has the best bargain on a tank?

[kennethrmc]

Kathy Lare makes totally traditional hand sewn kilts at good value, a bit less expensive than comparable from other traditional kilt makers. She is a member of the Scottish Kiltmaker's Guild and has very high standards. After shopping around, I got my good kilt in my clan tartan from her and have been very pleased with it.

[denmcdough]

I've read many good things about Alexis Malcolm, too. I don't have a kilt from her, yet, but my wife has Alexis making a hostess kilt. I'll let everyone know how it turns out once she receives it.

[jordanjm]

I wpuld look at The Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Store Website. I got a tank made in Scotland from them, and they handled all the import stuff.

[Tobus]

People put stock in it because hand-sewn kilts have sewn-in canvas interfacing and reinforcement while the majority of machine sewn kilts do not. This can make a great difference after a few years of wear. There's a good reason why hand-sewn kilts still exist.

Thank you, John. I did not know that. Is there some reason that kiltmakers who do machine stitching don't include reinforcement? I'm guessing it's because perhaps normal sewing machines can't handle punching through the extra thickness of material.

If the hand-stitching means better performance due to this additional reinforcement, then perhaps it is something I should take into consideration. These are the kinds of details I was hoping to get, in order to truly be able to determine how each kiltmaker's price corresponds to the quality.

I saw a really lovely, well-made kilt in Colquhoun made by Rocky at USA Kilts (link at top) worn by our Jon1975. You could contact Jon and see what he thinks. Not weathered, but I thought it a very fine tartan.

Rocky made my current PV casual kilt in Colquhoun ancient. I agree, it's a fine looking tartan, which is good because it's the clan my family comes from (on my mother's side; my father's side are Saxons). I wouldn't be wearing it otherwise, if there weren't a family connection. I could always get my 'tank' in the same "ancient" colors (as the modern Colquhoun colors are way too dark and formal looking for my tastes) if the weathered tartan is not available or would cost too much. But I was hoping for the weathered version because it would be perhaps a little more versatile for me. I'm an "earth tones" kind of fellow.

Anyway, USA Kilts and Keltoi are most definitely on my "short list", as I've done business with both in the past and I trust them. As I get closer to making the decision, I will be contacting each of them for specific quotes. I was mainly looking for other recommendations to get quotes from, which have been helpfully provided by the rabble here. Thank you!

[gordontaos]

So far I have been thrilled with Kathy Lare in Albuquerque. She is very thorough and professional, and she carries a full line of stock the rest of the kit components.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Thank you, John. I did not know that. Is there some reason that kiltmakers who do machine stitching don't include reinforcement? I'm guessing it's because perhaps normal sewing machines can't handle punching through the extra thickness of material.

If the hand-stitching means better performance due to this additional reinforcement, then perhaps it is something I should take into consideration. These are the kinds of details I was hoping to get, in order to truly be able to determine how each kiltmaker's price corresponds to the quality.

Actually the reinforcing and lining is blind stitched to inside of the kilt after the pleating is finished. Stitching lines from sewing machines would show if they were used to stitch the lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt, so some makers don't use it which results in a lower quality kilt overall.

Other makers though machine stitch the pleats in and then hand stitch the same lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt as an entirely hand-stitched kilt would have. The results of this "hybrid" style of kilt are exceptionally close to a hand stitched masterpiece with around half the required amount of hand stitching.

[NorCalPiper]

I'd like to disagree that machine stitched kilts not having lining, reinforcement for the pleats, or being up to par with hand sewn. Ours do and I believe are indistinguishable on the exterior to a handsewn...Thats just us though. Hothir has it right-Part machine, part hand.

[slohairt]

Actually the reinforcing and lining is blind stitched to inside of the kilt after the pleating is finished. Stitching lines from sewing machines would show if they were used to stitch the lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt, so some makers don't use it which results in a lower quality kilt overall.

Other makers though machine stitch the pleats in and then hand stitch the same lining and reinforcing into the back of the kilt as an entirely hand-stitched kilt would have. The results of this "hybrid" style of kilt are exceptionally close to a hand stitched masterpiece with around half the required amount of hand stitching.

Exactly. Some machine-made kilts are, in fact, partly hand-sewn. Therefore, it's always a good idea to ask the company/kilt maker what methods they use.

[slohairt]

I'd like to disagree that machine stitched kilts not having lining, reinforcement for the pleats, or being up to par with hand sewn. Ours do and I believe are indistinguishable on the exterior to a handsewn...Thats just us though. Hothir has it right-Part machine, part hand.

As I said, some machine made kilts are partly hand-sewn and do have the necessary reinforcement. Your kilts are in the minority, I'm afraid, as I've altered many machine-made kilts for customers and have never found interfacing, steeking, or a stabilizer inside. Of course, I've also altered hand-sewn kilts lacking the same features...

[RockyR]

People put stock in it because hand-sewn kilts have sewn-in canvas interfacing and reinforcement while the majority of machine sewn kilts do not. This can make a great difference after a few years of wear. There's a good reason why hand-sewn kilts still exist.

Actually, MOSt Machine Sewn kilts still have hand sewn canvas and hand sewn linings since it's tough / impossible to do those bits by machine. I only disagree with your term 'majority'.

Using our Premier 8 Yard kilts as an example... they are 90% machine sewn, but the 'innards' (horsehair canvas and the cotton lining) are all hand sewn.