Not real kilts?

[SumoKilt]

Guys

I thought a "real" kilt was the double apron front and fully pleated across the back. Any thoughts?

Josh

[yoippari]

Personally I think that if it is shaped like a kilt, and swings like a kilt, it is a kilt, maybe just not a traditional one.

I see it kinda like chainmaille. Original chainmaille was rivited and was a higher aspect ratio than the more modern variation of tighter aspect ratio (inside ring diameter / wire diameter) and butted rings. Butted is easier and you can use materials other than mild steel, but it is not traditional and does not make suitable armor (I tend to make finger rings, and I am making a tie). But it is still maille by definition.

[michael steinrok]

It seems that racism and bigotry exist even in the world of kilt manufacturers all in the name of sales and marketing.Soon as I hear it has to be this or that I just say "see ya". The first kilt I ever made was a complete disaster. I wore it any way. It is amazing what you can do with a lttle hot glue and an imagination.

[Luke MacGillie]

Guys

I thought a "real" kilt was the double apron front and fully pleated across the back. Any thoughts?

Josh

Depends on what you consider traditional. The generaly accepted definition of traditional is doing something that was done by your grandparents.

If you go back to the 18th cent you will see both belted plaids and little kilts that were pleated all the way around.

If you were to show up wearing a fully pleated kilt at most events these days folks would ask why you were wearing a skirt.

Same with OMG, brass or gilt instead of silver for your formal attire. Its not "Traditional" in the conventional sense of the word, but perfectly ok if looking to a time prior to our grandparents generation.

[Pleater]

I will try to make a kilt out of anything - just about - bit of a Dwarfish attitude I've got (i.e. Pass me a bigger hammer)

I gave up on the 8 yard all cotton only because I could not push the needles through the layers without them bending - so it is now going to be made into two 4 yarders, the first is box pleated. OK it was a pair of curtains - but they really wanted to be kilts.

Kilts have - something. It stirs the blood and lifts the heel, puts a glint in the eye and a jaunt in the step.

A kilt is just not the same as a women's skirt - a woman in a 'proper' kilt is transvesturing (!?!) - but as long as it does not disrupt the traffic....

Pleater

[GlassMan]

I finally saw the most recent issue of the Scottish Banner. Did anyone else hear read Mac Newsome's excellent article on this topic?

[Dakotan]

Hmmm... not wool, not hand-sewn, not made in Scotland.
Hmmm.... 30 pleats pressed to the sett, 3 leather straps, pushing 8 yards of tartan, rides from mid-knee to just over my belly button.

A Real Kilt? Looks like one to me!

[Celt]

Damn...and a pretty good looking one, too. Who made it/how much/all like that....???

[Dakotan]

www.StillwaterKilts.com in Minneapolis sells these. The tartan is a machine-washable acrylic that does a very good worsted wool imitation.
Their sales are mostly limited to eBay, but after I got my Royal Stewart at auction, I e-mailed them and ordered another of their kilts in Black Watch directly. Both cost the princely sum of $75.00 (+ shipping) each. I had to do a little work on the buckle pins on the Black Watch (the points were a bit on the "sharp" side), but the rest was VERY good, and my Royal Stewart is PERFECT. I haven't seen anything else even close for the money, and am quite pleased with them.

Just the view from here! - Dakotan

[Macwizzard]

I suppose I didn' metion the "Made is Scotland" aspect held true to the purists. Material wise and craftsmanship wise, at least in my opinion, a full traditional kilt doesn't have to come from scotland-but it wouldn't hurt if it did.

I meant no offense to those of the KiltWright trade. Merely the unwritten and unprovable impression of real "Scottish Autenticity" makes me think differently of the traditionalness of a kilt. But, any person's kilt is as real as they mean it to be. I'm not one to judge for others, but I consider any hand sewn 8-9 yard tartan kilt as "real" as the next one. But then, what do I know.

--Macwizzard