X Marks Tartan Vest

[Riverkilt]

Got an email back from Kathy Lare at Kathy's Kilts www.kathyskilts.com and a member of this board.

I'm a big guy, 52 jacket. She says a yard of the new X Marks Tartan material would be enough for a full front and back vest for me. If I do a tartan in the front only vest just a half a yard.

Thought this might help with our X Marks Tartan project for folks who wanna add on to their kilt (no not wear them together), or who would only want a vest to wear with a solid color kilt.

Think she charges about $125 to sew up a vest.

Ron

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Ask her if she plans on making the front of the vest with the tartan on the bias. (see my picture here).

It's traditional for tartan vests, and looks really sharp with the kilt.

Matt

[Riverkilt]

Would guess she would...haven't gotten to that point yet...just to asking about how much yardage is needed for a vest.

She was trained in Scotland by the traditional kiltmaker trainers and has all the Scottish kiltmaking certificates so would guess she'd tell me how she was gonna do it in the traditional manner.

Never thought two tartans could look so good together...sharp look.

Ron

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Ask her about it. It may (probably will) require more cloth for her to do the front on the bias. The back of the vest, by the way, is tartan, but positioned regularly.

I had a friend make that vest for me, modeled after one was have at the museum from sometime 1800-1820.

I've seen some tartan vests being worn modernly with the tartan on the bias in the front, but most that you find have the tartan pattern straight. These are vests being made by Scottish kiltmakers, mind you, so don't assume that because one was "trained in Scotland" they will do it a certain way. Always ask!

I like the look of vests with kilts, period. Solid, tweed, or tartan. And in tartan, I think they look especially sharp on the bias.

M

[Riverkilt]

THANKS Matt....where else but here would an old man in the canyonlands get such important information

Ron