Kilt for wedding - Help!

[Splash_4]

I will be going to my nephews wedding in June. He has decided to have himslef and his groomsmen kilted (Way to go nephew) and I wanted to wear one as well. However, this leads to my question. I currently own only 1 kilt (a black Stewart from SWK) and had planned on purchasing another one in the family named tartan. Now comes the dilemma, I am having a hard time in deciding between a 4 yard box pleat, a 5 yard knife edge or the traditional 8 yard knife edge. I am also struggling with the weight of the wool (mind, this wedding will be in Albuquerque, NM in the summer). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would also cover your opinions on which of these tartans... I am trying to decide between the MacKinnon modern or the MacKinnon ancient hunting.

Mike

[Caradoc]

I would also cover your opinions on which of these tartans... I am trying to decide between the MacKinnon modern or the MacKinnon ancient hunting.

I've always liked the "ancient" and "weathered" tartans more than most of the regular tartans, so I'm going to have to put my vote with the MacKinnon Ancient Hunting.

My own wedding kilt was a Weathered Lochaber.

New Mexico in the summer? 4-yard box-pleat in 11-13oz. You'll still be sweltering, but it'd beat an 8-yard knife-pleat in 15-16oz Strome!

[HeathBar]

Go with the box pleat. While I don't own one, I've seen several and am very impressed. I'm assuming you are talking about the ones made by Matt Newsome. He is a regular poster in the forum. I would also go with the box pleat because it's different.
When ever I am able to afford a new kilt. That is number one one the list.
As for weight, I'd stick with 16oz. Its the best weight for kilts. And 4yds would make it light enough in the New Mexico heat.
After looking at the MacKinnon tartan, the modern is very dark looking. The Barclay Htg Modern I have has similar colors and is very dark looking. I think the ancient colors would show off the tartan better.

I hope this helps, good luck.

[GatorUK]

I have an 8yd 13oz and have not had any problems with the heat down here in Key West. In fact I was cooler that if I were wearing jeans. The thing thats gonna heat you up is the jacket and, if you wear one, the waistcoat.

[Barb T]

I have an 8yd 13oz and have not had any problems with the heat down here in Key West. In fact I was cooler that if I were wearing jeans. The thing thats gonna heat you up is the jacket and, if you wear one, the waistcoat.

Frankly, what's _really_ hot are the kilt hose. I wear a 16 oz, 8-yard kilt in the summer for pipe band competitions and for parades, both of which require a lot more effort than standing around, and it's the socks that are the killer, not the kilt.

Barb

[sav]

I agree with Barb...the kilt hose are the real culprit.

[Pour1Malt]

get a real 16oz 8yd kilt... they is nuthin else like them!

[Panache]

I have a Matt Newsome 5 yard knife pleat in 16 oz. wool and am very pleased with it . It doesn't have as many pleats as my 13 oz. (?) 6 or so yard Stillwater Heavyweight wool kilt, but it feels much lighter. I can wear it all day and it doesn't feel heavy. The 16 oz. wool gives it a nice "swish". I didn't think too much of box pleats until I saw one in person. They really look quite nice. I think whichever way you go, you will be happy.

Cheers

[ckelly327]

I have a 16 oz 8 yarder, 100% wool and live in upstate NY. I've worn it in the summer as well as when it was snowing and never felt that it caused me to be any warmer or colder than my choice of jacket or shirt. Kilts seem to be very forgiving of weather. I agree that you should get the kilt you want regardless of one ocassion on your calendar. Ennjoy the day and the kilt.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

On the question of what style of kilt you want and what tartan you want, both of those ultimately fall into the category of your personal preference, so all I can tell you is to get what you really want.

I can advise a little bit about the cloth weight, though. And I will give you my usual advice, which is to get the heaviest weight that is available in your budget.

To determine that, you first need to select your tartan, because not every tartan is available in every weight range. For instance, MacKinnon modern and MacKinnon Hunting ancient are both available in 16 oz cloth from Lochcarron, but the MacKinnon Hunting ancient is priced as "rare select" which means the cloth (and therefore the kilt) will cost a bit more.

Both these tartans are also available from Lochcarron in their 13 oz cloth.

And from the House of Edgar, MacKinnon Hunting ancient is available in both 13 and 16 oz. MacKinnon modern is available in an 1821 variant, in the 13 oz only.

Now I have only checked from these two mills, but already you see that with this particular tartan you have lots of options, which is a good thing.

While both 13 oz and 16 oz will do fine in a 4 yard box pleated kilt, I strongly reccomend going with the heavier weight in this style where it is available. It really makes more of a difference in kilts with less yardage especially. Both the tartans you mentioned are available in 16 oz, and I don't charge any different between the two weights (except for "rare select" tartans, which are about $25 more), so really there isn't any reason to not get the heavy weight.

If you are concerned about heat, remember that this style of kilt only uses 4 yards, rather than 8, so you are cutting down the amount of cloth drastically, meaning that even a heavy weight 4 yard kilt is likely to feel cooler than a light weight 8 yard kilt will. Also, as Barb has pointed out, it's not so much the kilt that makes you warm, it's the woolen hose, woolen bonnet, woolen jacket, and all the other accessories we pile on top of the kilt.

If you decide on a tartan that's only available in 13 oz (like the 1821 variant the Edgar weaves) that's fine. It also makes a good box pleated kilt, and it's much more important to get the tartan you really want rather than worry about an extra 3 oz per yard kilt weight.

If you get a 5 yard knife pleated kilt, ditto for all I said above about box pleated kilts.

If you get an 8 yard kilt, the same advice applies, but to a lesser degree. I still say get the heaviest weight available that is within your budget. And while *I* would certainly still prefer the 16 oz due to the look and durability of the fabric, I know some people would be more comfortable in a 13 oz or lighter. In an 8 yard kilt, it's going to make less of a difference than in a 4 or 5 yard variety. For instance, I will sell you a 10 oz 8 yard kilt if that is what you really want. It's not the best cloth for a kilt, but it works if that is what is available. But I will not sell you a 10 oz 4 yard kilt! I'll have the cloth custom woven in a heavier weight first if that is what I need to do.

I hope that helps. If you have any other questions about selecting your kilt or tartan, feel free to email or call.

Aye,
Matt