Who actually OWNS a Scottish hand-sewn?

[Freelander Sporrano]

I own a 13oz., 8 yd. hand-sewn Cumming Hunting/Buchan District, made by certified Scottish kiltmaker Darren Purse, who manages the Toronto branch of Hector Russell. Darren does EXCELLENT work, and Hector Russell is fantastic when it comes to customer service.

Jimmy is quite right -- there is just no substitute for a hand-sewn traditional "tank" in all its glory.

Cheers!

T.

Your not wrong there! My Modern Gunn 8 yarder is the proof.I love to bit's.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Different kilts for different occasions, but in a purely critical analysis there is a difference between a traditional wool kilt and one made of something else

Jamie

A point well taken throughout the entire response. It's quality in the kiltmaker!

I have a handsewn WOOLLEN one made for me by a firm in Inverness - Chisholms.

With the point being that the kiltmaker is the real difference. Scottish, Swahili or other. Skill is universal but not universally practiced.

"The last floor is the workroom... the domain of our Master Kiltmaker, Margot Brodie."

What does that say about the social skills of kiltmakers?
Again, isn't it amazing what it takes to make these things properly? The truth is in the details!

...made by certified Scottish kiltmaker Darren Purse, who manages the Toronto branch of Hector Russell. Darren does EXCELLENT work, and Hector Russell is fantastic when it comes to customer service.

You get what you pay for! A casual advertised as a casual, or 4 yarder is just that, and has its purpose. A "traditional" advertised as such must have the care and skill put into it. An 8-yarder listed as such has some flexibility. Know the difference before you shell-out the bucks.

I have a blackwatch that is handswen from Scotland and two of my own.

Is it possible to sew them and make them real close? Yup. Can anyone do it? Obviously not. There's a skill in the kiltmaker, a patience in the process, and an eye for traditional details that make it tough for most. Could Robert do one in wool and have it indistinguishable? I would put a bet in his favor!

[Mychael Sporrano]

I have two UK made kilts presently in hand. One is a 13 oz. Kinloch Anderson in their Corporate tartan, while the other is a 16 oz. kilt in Campbell of Argyll Weathered tartan purchased from Nicolson Highlandwear.

As for those kilts not presently in hand, I have one 6 yd hipster on order from TFCK in their AR-1 black wool and will soon be ordering a fourth traditional kilt, most likely in an Irish tartan. I am feeling the need for a little bit of color.

While I am leary of wearing my traditional kilts for everyday use, I do wear them around more than most, I suspect. I am not fond of having things around that I do not use, and I love how they look and feel as compared to my casuals: sumptuous, decadent, sensual... Since my wife Karen REALLY likes seeing me in a traditional kilt, I like to give her something to think about from time to time.

Having never worn P/V, I can only compare wool to my Pittsburgh Kilts in 100% 13 oz cotton or a lighter weight poly/cotton blend in the case of my MARPAT kilt. When my pair of P/V kilts arrive from Bear in late Sept./early Oct, I will have something to add to this ovine/cellulose debate.

Where the 13 oz brushed cotton is concerned, it feels more like 15-16 oz fabric since Jeff at PK washes and preshrinks the fabric before he fashions it into product. The kilts hang beautifully, and I love their heft. The majority of casual kilts that I see on the various sites look thinnish in comparison, making me hesitant to order one. [If I am wrong on this point I would appreciate being told differently.] Of course, cotton does not move anything like wool, but unlike kilts fashioned from relatively stiff canvas fabrics, it does have some swish.

As JimmyC wrote, casuals have their place. They are practicalk and more affordable, but in my opinion there is no comparison between cotton and a properly made wool kilt of good weight. When I think about adding another casual to my wardrobe it makes me feel good in the same way that adding a needed tool to the work shop can do. But now that I have worn one, the thought of adding another traditional wool kilt REALLY gets me stoked.

That said, I really am looking forward to my tartan kilts from Bear. One will be an 8 yard Ramsay Blue, the other a 4 yd Grizzly Cut in the Warrior tartan. [Other than to say that it looks purpleish, I am not even sure what the Warrior tartan looks like since the example was pretty dark.] As I stated above, I am in the mood for some color!

Mychael

[Richard]

I do, 13 oz 8.5 yds Anderson Tartan you can tell the difference straight away it hang much better and swings gracefully. I also have a casual kilt, yes it is nice and it looks OK, but you can't beat the real thing
Richard

[freddie]

My line up is:
9 yard heavyweight modern MacDonald of The Isles - Lochcarron Strome
8 yard heavyweight modern Hume - Martin Mills Jura
? yard medium weight Stuart Prince Charles Edward (second hand off ebay)
6 yard casual kilt in Mackenzie (man made fibres - pleated to stripe)
I prefer the heavyweight kilts as you really know you're wearing a kilt with these, however the medium weight one is great for indoors and is a really nice smooth dress cloth that actually swings better than the others.
The casual one is just for wearing around the house in the hot weather.

[Pour1Malt]

och laddie... whit else wuid ai weer?


Red Robertson, 8yd, 16oz...

Hunting Robertson, 8yd, 16oz...

Grey Douglas, 8yd, 16oz...

Purple Thistle, 8yd, 16oz...

aw han'made by Douglas Anderson Kiltmakers, Dumfries, Scotland

[David Dalglish]

Hi There,

I have 3 kilts 1 7yd made at Hector Russel inGlasgow(Black Watch ) & 2- 9yds both made at House of Edgar ( Anderson modern & Robertson ancient Hunting) All great kilts hand made & Wonderful to wear

[McRod]

I have twohand made kilts. One Hunting stewart, and one Logan. The Hunting Stewart i wear most of the time and for special occasions, the Logan.

[Ruanaidh]

Hello all,

16 oz, hand made, 8 yrd:
Irish National
Breton National
Maple Leaf
Stewart Black
Black Isle
County Down (House of Edgar)
Highland Granite (on order - still waiting)

16 oz, 5 yrd:
Irish American

13 oz, 8 yrd:
US Army (hand made by Alexis Malcom)
Vaughan of Wales
County Down (Irish County Crest)

[Ne Oublie]

I have two both made by Lochcarron, 16oz, 8 yards, of outstanding tartan fabric.