Good News, Bad News, Good News

[A Hay]

About the end of September I finally ordered a kilt I had been wanting for some time. It is a Welsh Cilt in the Lloyd colors. One of my ancestors was a Mary Loyd who married Joshua Hayes in North Carolina in 1734. The two sources I found were the Welsh Tartan Center and our own Celtic Croft, who advertises here. I opted for Celtic Croft for various reasons.

I expected a 3 to 4 month wait for the cilt. Amazingly, it came in about 4 weeks! So A+ for delivery. That's the good news.

When I put it on, it seemed a little short, however. I had requested a 40 inch waist, by 23 inch overall length. When I measured, it was barely 22 inches long, although the tag said 40 x 23. Huge bad news!!

The cilt is well made however, and I really didn't want to send it back. I love the muted colors. (Pics later below) I contacted Celtic Croft and we discussed several options, including sending it back to them and having a new cilt ordered. I wasn't sure that was needed since it had almost 1 1/2 inches in hem turned under. I don't think it was Celtic Croft's fault really, They said they got it from somewhere else.

Finally, I sent it back to them and today it finally arrived. Joseph Croft did an excellent job of rehemming it and adding additional fringe to the side of the apron. That's the final good news. I have a very nicely made welsh cilt, in a pattern that have meaning to me.

So overall, my thanks to Celtic Croft for coming through!

Couple of other nitpicking things for anyone else to consider however. I asked for the optional red welsh dragon that was supposed to be embroidered on the bottom of the apron. Wasn't there.
I also ordered matching flashes. They came in the correct fabric, but they are shorter than traditional flashes, they are in one piece, not two, and the elastic garter is a loop of elastic about 1/4 inch wide. Definitely will have to modify that.

And finally, the pictures. I have not pressed it yet. Just steamed it a little.





The sporran was made by me. O'Neille has another like it.

I'll probably wear it not this Sunday before Christmas (I'm weaing my Ancient Hay tartan because of the red and green colors) but the next Sunday. I'll post more formally dressed pics after that.

Happy Holidays to all
Tom

[McMurdo]

Congratulations, the kilt looks great, and your sporran is a perfect match.

[Bugbear]

Hope it all works out in the end, good luck, and congratulations.

[Panache]

I'm glad your patience was rewarded and the Celtic Croft stepped up to plate to make things right. By the by, that's a handsome tartan.

Merry Christmas

Jamie

[Pleater]

Just my opinion, but I think that the lack of the embroidered dragon is a plus -with the dragon on the sporran it would be too much.

Sometimes less really is more...

and it looks good on you.

[Mael Coluim]

Alls well that ends well. You look great!

[Alan H]

That's handsome!

[cloves]

beautiful! Looks great A_Hay!

[sharpdressedscot]

You made the sporran yourself? That's really cool, man!

[Tattoo Bradley]

You made the sporran yourself? That's really cool, man!

If you're looking for the more "modern" shaped sporran with superior tooled designs, Tom is your man. If you do a search here you'll find several he's made for other Xmarkers. Here's mine.