Kilt Collection-Evolution Poll

**Standard** · 21st May 10, 07:26 PM

Started out with an 8 yarder 16oz in New Caledonian tartan, then a nice tweed kilt from Rocky, and awaiting Barb Tewksbury to build a kilt for me out of some regimental weight Black Watch tartan. Might try a Utilikilt someday, but not anytime soon.

**Big Mikey** · 21st May 10, 07:52 PM

In order, UK, SWK, Freedom cargo, West Coast hand stitched 16oz. wool, some FKs in poly/wool blend, a couple P/Vs. My ultimate is to have a family tartan designed, woven in wool and outfit myself, my spouse and daughter.

**Whidbey78** · 21st May 10, 09:16 PM

Started with 2 SWK's, then a Sportkilt(now basically PJ's for watching cartoons in), 2 ebay specials(one of which was an amazing buy, the other was as good as SWK), then one from a seller here. My family got me a USAK semi-trad last year. All were tartans.

Now I'm making a couple of X-kilts that I really need to get back to--one in blue poly-cotton the other in ACU. When those are done I'll probably do a few more in different styles, but no tartans. Maybe more camo. Certainly more solids. I'll probably make at least one with pockets, but may hide them under a pleat...can't decide which way to go.

My wife just ordered a kilt for me for my birthday. She took the measurements, so I know it's not off the rack, but she won't tell me what style or who is making it. (If it's Rocky, please change her order to Warrior tartan unless she ordered Irish National.)

The future is hard to predict. When I go back to active duty in about six weeks I'll have better income, but I may not be able to get tartans I want in PV, and I can't wear all wools so I have to be careful about what I buy. I have my eye on several PV casuals and another semitrad from USAK, and a couple from SHO as well. Freedom Kilts has a few nice options and I like what I see from Neo Kilt too.

I'm basically done with off the rack kilts as the fit of a tailored unit is so much better.

**Monkey@Arms** · 21st May 10, 10:34 PM

I picked the final poll option, but its not an exact fit. I started with a UK, acquired 2 SWKs and a whole bunch more UKs. Obtained a USAK semi-trad for more formal occasions. Finally obtained an 8 yard 16oz wool from Scotland for really special occasions, but its still my UK's that see the most wear and I don't see that changing.

Best regards,

Jake

**Jock Scot** · 21st May 10, 10:59 PM

I have voted----- for the one that fits my situation the closest.

**dfmacliam** · 22nd May 10, 12:26 AM

I started with a Sportkilt and then got a couple SWK's, a USAKilts casual, and then UK Survivor. I realized I was not so comfortable with a contemporay kilt, I sold everything but the USAKilts casual, and bought a Freedom Kilt 16oz Leatherneck. I since got a couple more kilts, from Keltoi. I figure I have enough kilts, now I need to get a nice jacket with waistcoat, a goat hair sporran, and some more nice hose..

I thought I was the contemporary type, but found out I was more comfortable wearing my kilts a bit closer to traditional.

**dutchy kilted** · 22nd May 10, 02:15 AM

Started with an Amerikilt, then got another one, then a few Utilikilts in vairous models, which I still usually wear. I also wear a black denim kilt I got through another XMTS member for casual use, and finally a tartan casual from Rocky at USAK I keep for more "formal" occassions. I am currently saving for a semi-trad from Rocky for a more formal look, but I still use my UK's more than anything. (I need the pockets.)

**OC Richard** · 22nd May 10, 04:14 AM

When I started wearing kilts, 35 years ago, there was no such things as utility kilts or sport kilts or casual kilts or machine-stitched kilts or polyviscose kilts.

A kilt was a kilt: 8 yards of 13oz or 16oz tartan wool.

The range of tartans was far smaller than today's, consisting almost entirely of clan tartans. There were very few district tartans. The explosion in "trade" tartans for the kilt hire industry (Flower of Scotland, Spirit of Scotland, Isle of Skye, etc etc) had yet to occur. There were very few non-Scottish tartans (US state tartans, Cornish tartans, etc etc).

Irish kilts were plain saffron, blue, or green. The range of Irish county tartans hadn't been invented yet.

So the "traditional" kilt as it had been made since the 1890s was all there was, and it's still the only kilt that really interests me.

One thing that I did recently discover: when I began collecting vintage Highland Dress catalogues I did notice that 6-yard kilts were offered in the 1930s as a budget option to the normal 8-yard kilts. So a form of "casual kilt" has been with us for quite some time.

**artificer** · 22nd May 10, 06:17 AM

Alan, Great idea for a poll, but you've missed at least one more option-

Started out with budget tartans - am thinking about adding both contemporary (non tartan) and all wool tartan kilts

which is where I sit, so I haven't voted.

ith:

toadinakilt · 22nd May 10, 07:22 AM

Started off with a Sportkilt and SWK, conveniently lost the Sportkilt and had a friend make me an XKilt. Now I want wool kilts, and probably will never purchase a contemporary kilt again. If I need a knockabout, I've got the XKilt. If I need another, I'll make it or have the same friend do it.