Kilted Evolution, Part sixteen thousand and three

[Kid Cossack]

Being a semi-irregular series of reports on "where I'm at now" in terms of kilting.

I like kilts, and I like wearing them. Every so often I'll post about what I like, how it's changing, things like that, mostly as a mental exercise---it's fun to see how my tastes change and evolve over time.

As I've mentioned before, I started off with a Utilikilt and progressed from there, through Pittsburgh Kilts and SWKs and SportKilts and USAKs.

I've got two short yardage custom woolen kilts, and I'm liking them very much. One is a Matt Newsome, four yards, box pleated, charcoal grey tweed. My perverse side really digs on this kilt--it's definitely a kilt, but it's not worsted nor tartan nor knife pleated. Weight of the tweed is about thirteen ounces, and it's soft and "fluffy" (if you will). Good pleat movement, a very balanced feel to it (two yards in front and two yards in back!), and I really like Matt's left side buckle and strap setup. (Details here: http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html ) Handsewn, and scarily well.

The other short yardage custom is from Rocky Roeger at USA Kilts. It's thirteen ounce as well, but worsted wool in my gang colors, the USMC Leatherneck tartan. Knife pleated. The fabric is much tauter and tighter than the tweed above. This kilt also has good movement and a nicely balanced feel. Machine sewn---and a dang fine kilt.

When I'm going out, I find myself wearing those kilts quite frequently. Other kilts in heavy rotation are the USAK semi-trad Ramsay, the USAK casual Farquharson and the vintage poly-cotton PK in desert MARPAT. When I'm lounging around the house, it's generally the USAK casual, the PK or a Celtic Croft philabeg with cheater pleats and straps and buckles in poly-viscose ancient Campbell. (The CC philabeg uses a very similar left hip buckle and strap arrangement to Matt Newsome's.) I like the brute resilience of the poly-cotton and PV around the house. You can thrash these kilts and they don't really care!

I used to favor poly-cotton a great deal, but have shifted more to the poly-viscose (Marton Mills makes great PV) of late, and the two wool kilts just knock my socks off. At last I understand why everyone loves wool so much!

I live in Houston, Texas, and I'm currently entirely pleased with my thirteen ounce, 4-5 yard kilts. I've ordered another Newsome kilt, sixteen ounce this time, and am eager to compare the two weights of worsted.

Between reading Matt Newsome's articles on kilt history and living in a fever swamp, I'm pretty happy with the 4-5 yards, it fits my living conditions and the climate I live 'em in, and the "short yardage" kilts seem to hark back to the days when kilts were an everyday working garment.

I don't have a tank yet. I've got eight yard kilts in wool (SWK heavyweight bottle green), acrylic (another SWK) and PV (the Ramsay Semi-Trad and a USAK Army Semi-Trad) but the wool and the handmade don't match up with each other. I know one day I'm going to need to get me a tank (sixteen ounce eight yard handsewn), but, as a former Marine, I analogize the tank to the Dress Blue Alphas (tunic, blue trousers, blood stripe, cover and gloves) with the other options (i.e., a custom tailored PV, or a custom tailored short yardage kilt) being more like Dress Blue Charlies---short sleeve shirt, ribbons, blue trousers with blood stripe.

And I was always a Charlies type of guy!

I'm enjoying the journey. As I go along, I can feel myself getting more traditional---I've gone from an off the rack poly-cotton Utilikilt to, now, custom tailored tweed and tartan. I don't mind learning as I go, the journey is a lot of the fun.

I am pretty confident and comfortable in the kilt. Sometimes it'll take me a while to remember why I seem to catch everyone's eye. It's a great conversation starter. of the fifteen or twenty thousand times I've been asked if I'm Scottish I've generally responded "in part, and if you go back far enough."

Whether for physical activity (bocce ball or bowling or darts, ha ha, hiking, playing at the park with my daughters, whatever), trips to the store or having a pint whenever we can whistle up a babysitter, it's hard to beat being kilted.

Does any of the foregoing make a hill of beans worth of difference to anyone or anything? Probably not, but it's fun to think about, and if I bored you too much you stopped reading a few dozen paragraphs ago anyhow!

[GMan]

It makes complete sense to me.

[turpin]

I am in full agreement, and am anxiously awaiting my box from Matt to get a sens of the difference. I have 2 handsewn 16-oz 8-yarders and 2 13 oz, plus 2 SWK woolies, one std, a cotton canvas 8 yard and a UK Mocker. All get worn, some more than others. My journey branched toward "maybe I'll try to sew my own by hand" until Barb's book said as how if you're a lefty, forget it. Maybe with box pleats it doesn't matter, in whihc case I may get even more busy this year.

It seems since I started kilting life has just been more fun than before. The camaraderie here, the folks I've met in person because of it, and the increased self-confidence that comes with throwing caution to the winds and putting myself out there for whatever reactions there may be. People around me smile more, open up and talk. My daughter has just dug the he77 out of it and we've become really close. - It's just all good

[Zardoz]

Kid, I think the USA PV kilts are the perfect garment for our enviroment down here in the coastal plains (fever swamp). Although after seeing your 13oz Leatherneck, I think a 5 yard 13oz wool from Rocky will be my next kilt, most likely in the Texas tartan.

[Riverkilt]

Makes sense to me too.

Just know that when you do get that first 16oz strome hand sewn traditional kilt you will be come most addicted to the beauty and the swing of it...leading you to buy more...

Semper Fi

Ron

[Kid Cossack]

Makes sense to me too.

Just know that when you do get that first 16oz strome hand sewn traditional kilt you will be come most addicted to the beauty and the swing of it...leading you to buy more...

Semper Fi

Ron

Ron I'm trying hard not to think about it, but Matt's making me up a 16 ounce MacLachlan that he had on special. Not a eight yarder, but still . . . now I'm going to have to go back to not thinking about it some more!

[Kid Cossack]

Kid, I think the USA PV kilts are the perfect garment for our enviroment down here in the coastal plains (fever swamp). Although after seeing your 13oz Leatherneck, I think a 5 yard 13oz wool from Rocky will be my next kilt, most likely in the Texas tartan.

I'm a sucker for Rocky and Kelly's work. Let's see: Farquharson, Army, Ramsay, Leatherneck, and the wife's Warrior mini. Quick work, quality work, value pricing, and you're bang on regarding PV for our heat and humidity. If the Farquharson hadn't picked up a burn hole in the apron it would get even more "going out" time. (The sporran covers it, but I still know it's there.)

I sure wish the Houston games had been in May, say, instead of March---even the 5/13 was beginning to get warm that day!

[Kid Cossack]

I am in full agreement, and am anxiously awaiting my box from Matt to get a sens of the difference. I have 2 handsewn 16-oz 8-yarders and 2 13 oz, plus 2 SWK woolies, one std, a cotton canvas 8 yard and a UK Mocker. All get worn, some more than others. My journey branched toward "maybe I'll try to sew my own by hand" until Barb's book said as how if you're a lefty, forget it. Maybe with box pleats it doesn't matter, in whihc case I may get even more busy this year.

Yah, the whole world is prejudiced against lefties! I think you're going to really enjoy the box pleat

It seems since I started kilting life has just been more fun than before. The camaraderie here, the folks I've met in person because of it, and the increased self-confidence that comes with throwing caution to the winds and putting myself out there for whatever reactions there may be. People around me smile more, open up and talk. My daughter has just dug the he77 out of it and we've become really close. - It's just all good

Isn't it amazing how much FUN kilting is? It's almost ridiculous what a difference a few yards of wool wrapping can make. I know I carry myself differently kilted, and I know people react differently to me kilted. Sometimes it feels like I'm doing the world a favor, just by wearing a kilt! All good INDEED!

[Kid Cossack]

It makes complete sense to me.

You must be strange, too! It's rare that I make complete sense, even to myself!

[TheSp8]

It made sense to me. Must be the heat. I've been wearing my SWK heavyweights and my tanks here in San Antonio. I think a 4 yarder would be just the thing. Hmmm, time to start saving my pennies.

YMOS,
Tony