Kilt Pin Position

**AnimalK** · 21st November 06, 09:00 PM

Is there a hard and fast rule for the location of the Kilt pin? I mean, distance from the corner of the apron. (No, ya Philistines, I wasn't gonna put it in the MIDDLE!!!!

)

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 22nd November 06, 05:39 AM

Just somewhere down in the lower outside corner is fine. It doesn't have to be so many inches in from teh apron edge or up from the bottom. Just use the EB method (the "eye-ball" method) and put it where it looks right.

M

**davedove** · 23rd November 06, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Just somewhere down in the lower outside corner is fine. It doesn't have to be so many inches in from teh apron edge or up from the bottom. Just use the EB method (the "eye-ball" method) and put it where it looks right.

M

Matt's advice is the best here (and he ought to know

).

I'm sure the kilted military units have exact rules for placing the pin, but for civilian wearing, just make it look good.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 23rd November 06, 05:59 AM

If the wind is as strong as some are describing here, I fail to see what good pinning the outside apron to the inside will do. After all, if the wind is that strong it will take both aprons up with it! I'd rather have them loose, and that way maybe the outside apron will blow up with the inner one staying in place.

In any case, I have never been in wind strong enough to actually blow the front of my kilt up -- it's usually the back that gets blown, and I find even there that it usually feels worse than it is.

I'll be walking downtown and feel like the wind is blowing the back of my kilt all over the place, only to catch sight of myself in the reflection in a store window and see that my pleats are barely moving.

M

**Nanook** · 22nd November 06, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by AnimalK

Is there a hard and fast rule for the location of the Kilt pin? I mean, distance from the corner of the apron. (No, ya Philistines, I wasn't gonna put it in the MIDDLE!!!!

)

If you must wear a kilt pin its the right hand side of the outer apron on the second sett (bottom and right). It should only be used to secure the inner apron during the worst winds. Neither in battle nor on parade there is probably no function to the pin other than as a "traditional" ornament.
My hard and fast rule for the location of the Kilt pin? Typically in a box or bag but not on a kilt.

**JimB** · 22nd November 06, 02:58 PM

Wearing my kilt at work the other day taught me that kilt pins and desks do not play well together. For a desk worker the kilt pin should probably stay in the sporran.

**Bob C** · 22nd November 06, 02:59 PM

I've got to disagree with Nanook. NEVER secure the outer apron to the inner. The kilt won't hang right.

I wear it two-to-three inches in from the edge and up from the bottom, at the intersection of a prominent line of the tartan.

The kilt pin is a nice part of the ensemble and helps the outfit look finished. Wear it.

**Nanook** · 22nd November 06, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bob C.

I've got to disagree with Nanook. NEVER secure the outer apron to the inner. The kilt won't hang right.

In a gusty storm its not about kilts "hanging right". When weather is not windy enough to have call to secure the outer and inner aprons then the pin should remain in the outer apron. Regimental kilts are stiff and heavy but even with a large horse hair sporran there is a point when kilts fly like Marilyn Monroe's dress in "Seven Year Itch". Luckily few of us will ever be exposed to such nasty winds--- and, in the least, not be standing around in kilts.

**Caradoc** · 22nd November 06, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Nanook

In a gusty storm its not about kilts "hanging right".

Luckily few of us will ever be exposed to such nasty winds--- and, in the least, not be standing around in kilts.

My wedding at Edinburgh Castle on Oct 31 was quite windy - to the point that my bride and the taxi driver both commented on how even my 16oz wool kilt was getting within centimeters of exposing me to the world as I mailed our announcements from the mailbox at the bottom of the hill within the Castle.

I had no problems at all with the aprons - I was wearing a rather heavy pin on the front apron. The back pleats were catching air, though...

It's even visible in this shot:

**scoutniagara** · 23rd November 06, 07:27 AM

Caradoc,

What a lovely photo!

What tartan is the piper wearing? Wallace?

Recently, I took a look at one of my pins on one of my kilts and decided to move it. I had placed it right on one of the stripes, and you could barely see the pin. I moved it over to a more solid section and you can see it more clearly, now.