PV versus Wool

[Fox]

"Stirling" is MM's line of Poly Wool... 55% Poly / 45% wool.

Interesting. How's this stuff compare to PV in form, function, and price? I'm wondering if it might make an economical alternative to wool, especially for outdoor use since poly is used a great deal for wicking.

[Clockwork John]

An average sheep produces about 12 pounds of wool per annual clipping (although they are usually clipped more often). So each yard of 16 oz double width would require one pound. 4 yards of double width would equate to 4 pounds of wool. That is one third of a sheeps annual production or 4 months. The answer is 4 months.

Wow. I'm impressed that someone actually knew the answer!

No wonder the Scots wore kilts! Hypothetically, if a family of four owned two sheep, they would produce 24 pounds of wool per year, or 24 yards of double width cloth... at four yards of double width cloth per kilt, that's one kilt or other wool garment per family member per year, plus 8 yards of fabric or 8 pounds of wool left to sell/trade/ use elswhere!

[Mael Coluim]

This week has been unusually cold here in Virginia. In fact, in the office this week I never could get warm. Yesterday, was Kilted Friday, and I donned my USA Kilts PV Stewart Black. The morning was cold and icey; below freezing. I felt comfortable all day and had no feeling of being cold in my PV kilt!

[RockyR]

Interesting. How's this stuff compare to PV in form, function, and price? I'm wondering if it might make an economical alternative to wool, especially for outdoor use since poly is used a great deal for wicking.

Not too sure... I made 1 kilt in it a long time ago for a felow xmarkser who is no longer active (Jeremy). He still wears it and loves it. However, that was just 1 kilt.

[Alan H]

I have two wool/poly blends kilts. One is made by Caledonian Kilts from Scotland, but it's not made from a Marton Mills fabric, as MM doesn't produce Holyrood in the Stirling line. It's a 5-yard, has about 22 pleats and is relatively lightweight, much like PV. The other is akilt I made myself from Poly/Wool from Fraser and Kirkbright,. It's the grey/blue stuff they've had on sale forever. That kilt is a 6 yard, has 27 pleats, a 4.5 inch sett and has a fantastic "swish". It is, however, a bit light and after a years wearing, rougly once a week, it's starting to pill a bit under the sporran and belt.

All in all, it's lighter stuff, but I like it and it's hand-washable....I've done it. I know that the MM Stirling line includes a 13 ounce poly/wool MacNaughton, Weathered and when (if) I get 'round to making my Ultimate Kilt, my Clan Tank, that's what I will make it out of.

[slohairt]

I thought we sorted that it wasn't PV earlier in this thread. Greg has obviously overdosed on Guinness prior to his US return.

More likely overdosed on Poteen!

[Daaaaang]

So if I buy a sheep, I could have a Newsome every two months!

SOLD.

[Chef]

So if I buy a sheep, I could have a Newsome every two months!

SOLD.

Ok, so can someone figure out how many acres of grass will be destroyed to feed the sheep and therefore produce the wool? Don't forget the cost of the water as well. Remember everything has an environmental impact.

[Clockwork John]

Does sheep manure have any commercial value? that would be one way to cover some of the cost...

[Bugbear]

Where I grew up, the cow farmers hated the sheep farmers and were always talking about how much dammage the sheep did to grazeland. There was some deep heart felt hate too.

Ok, so can someone figure out how many acres of grass will be destroyed to feed the sheep and therefore produce the wool? Don't forget the cost of the water as well. Remember everything has an environmental impact.