Saltire kilt

**Graham** · 14th March 07, 07:36 AM

We had a ceilidh last Sat. night, one of the pipers turned up in a saltire kilt. First time I've see it close up, very nice indeed!

**Graham** · 14th March 07, 07:43 AM

Pipe band plays..it was a casual night, not all wore kilts.

Some of the young Highland dancers entertained.

The haggis procession. Note the idiot at the back who didn't even bother wearing shoes!

**Bob C** · 14th March 07, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Graham

The haggis procession. Note the idiot at the back who didn't even bother wearing shoes!

Gee, he looks familiar...

**TimC** · 14th March 07, 07:45 AM

NICE! That looks great. Did you find out who made it?

-Tim

**Fearnest** · 14th March 07, 08:02 AM

LOVE the wee drummer! (OK, and the saltire kilt, too.) Great piccies!

**GMan** · 14th March 07, 08:33 AM

Graham I too wasn't sure of the Saltire Kilt until I saw one up close, and I do have to agree with you that they are very nice looking.

I do as usual enjoy your pictures.

**pdcorlis** · 14th March 07, 08:52 AM

Yeah - I thought I recognized the bald spo... I'm mean head.

**Chef** · 14th March 07, 10:35 AM

Other than the concept of sitting on my nations flag, I really do like the Saltire kilt.

**ccga3359** · 14th March 07, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Chef

Other than the concept of sitting on my nations flag, I really do like the Saltire kilt.

I agree that one must be very careful about wearing there nations flag as clothing.
That being said I believe that this saltire kilt is only an optical illusion and that the saltire does not actually exist, but appears when pleated properly. Hamish has said that it is a specialty weave and used by only the one company that makes this kilt. So, I feel at least, that one is not sitting on the national flag.

**Hamish** · 14th March 07, 06:32 PM

Tim, I ask the piper where he bought his kilt, a shop in Edinburgh near the castle, didn't say which.

Gray, I suspect this shop is the same one from which I bought my Saltire kilt, namely 'Colin of Edinburgh' (formerly The Scottish Store) at the top end of Johnson Terrace. However, since this tartan is restricted (in the weaving, not the wearing!) the kilts are made up by only one firm of kiltmakers as far as I know. These kilts are now offered by many other kiltmakers and Highland Dress outfitters across Scotland who presumably act as agents for the weavers.

It is an intriguing weave across a somewhat simple tartan, and the Saltire marking appears only on the outward facing side of each pleat - as the pleats swing open the Saltire becomes fragmented, for want of a better word! If the design were to be woven continuously across the fabric, the Saltire would have jagged edges and would be most unattractive. Personally, I do not consider this kilt to be a flag at all, and so I have no compunction in wearing it.