Tartan weight

**Riverkilt** · 14th October 10, 08:21 AM

My first hand sewn kilt was in 10/11 ounce Lochcarron. I was warned it is a weight commonly used for highland dancers to accentuate their moves. Not being a dancer figured what the heck. My kiltmaker assured me it would make a fine kilt. It has been.

I have not noticed it wrinkling any more than my heavier weight wool kilts and it certainly doesn't feel like a women's skirt to me. I feel "kilted" when I wear it. I bought mine for the same reason you mention - it was the only weight I could get the tartan I loved in.

I am most pleased I went ahead and purchased the kilt because to me the beauty of the tartan, and the meaning of the tartan, was more important than the weight of the fabric.

So, if its the tartan you want - go for it. If you have a good kiltmaker you'll no doubt be pleased with the final results.

Macdonald Lord of the Isles is my 10/11 ounce Locharron tartan kilt...

**lethearen** · 14th October 10, 08:54 AM

I'd be concerned with two things... 1. Wind... and 2. Temperature!

I have a 13oz 5yd, and I'm pretty self-conscious when the wind is up. I find it flips a little easier than I'm comfortable with. With an 8yd, your 10oz may not be as free spirited, though.

And I think I saw that you're in Missouri? I'd think it might get a wee nippy for that light of fabric. Dunno. I live in Texas and winter doesn't mean the same thing down here as it might to you ;)

In any case, I'd really recommend getting it in 16oz if it's at all possible (including custom weave if necessary).

**Riverkilt** · 14th October 10, 09:25 AM

Never a wind problem with my 10/11 ounce and I live in a place called "The Windy Mesa."

Secret of comfort in the wind while kilted is to go off hiking somewhere isolated on a windy day and let the wind play with the kilt. We guys aren't used to it like women are. But taking time to let the wind play with your kilt in an isolated spot will show you there's nothing to worry about - in most cases...of course venturi effects must also be considered.

**Tobus** · 14th October 10, 10:35 AM

I have a 13oz 5yd, and I'm pretty self-conscious when the wind is up. I find it flips a little easier than I'm comfortable with.

Same here. My 4-yard 11-oz (PV) kilt can easily get blown up higher than I care for it to. And in fact it has, once or twice in gusty weather. It's not an issue when standing out in the open. But if you're next to a building the wind is doing something other than straight-line shear, it's an issue.

Maybe more yardage with deeper pleats overlapping would help, I dunno. But it has a completely different feel than my 8-yard 16-ounce tank. As much as I like my PV casual lightweight kilt, it does feel like a skirt when I put it on, now that I'm used to wearing the tank. When I wear my lightweight kilt, I'm very much more self-conscious about how much the fabric blows around compared to heavier wool.

**Maclachlan** · 14th October 10, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Just as a point of clarification, Lochcarron's site lists the MacLachlan Old in weathered colors on their Strome (16 oz) cloth page:

http://lochcarron.com/tartanstrome/maclachlan_old.html

If you'd like a kilt in MacLachlan Weathered in 16 oz, it is possible from anyone who carries Lochcarron cloth (including us

).

I did know that they could weave it for me but it all comes down to the money aspect of the whole affair. I prefer, by all means 16 ounce material and 8 yard kilts solely for the look and feel but am certainly open to 13 ounce and/or 5 yard to keep costs down. I saw on your site that the muted from House of Edgar is one of the ones offered and that was a strong second so, as soon as I can get the wife to free up some funds for me then you'll most likely get the order.

Originally Posted by Barb T.

I made an Air Force tartan kilt in 10 oz Strathmore for my daughter when she started Air Force ROTC quite a few years ago. It does not make a very good kilt - wrinkles like the dickens and feels like a skirt. I've since had a custom weave in 16 oz done, and that's the kilt she has now. The old 10 oz kilt went to a Highland dancer, and, even for her, it's a little "flippy". I'd pick a different tartan, or have something custom woven, long before I'd make another kilt in 10 oz.

The term 'flippy' was exactly the word I had in mind when I first asked this question! Glad I'm not alone in that!