Kilt Material

[ChattanCat]

Hi folks,

I am almost done with the pleating of my Macpherson tartan. Of course my mind wanders and I am starting to plan for my next kilt (to the chagrin of my wife). I love traditional kilts but I thought I might try a different material than wool. Don't want leather, but thats about it. Maybe canvas duck, or corduroy, cotton...

What kind of material and weights have you used?

[MacWage]

I have messed with some other materials, some just in the planning stages and some bought material. YET, I still love the wool most.
Cotton: Wrinkles REAL bad and doesn't hold a pleat well.
Duck canvas has many of the same problems.
Poly Cotton seems to work better.

Rocky has a chart he made to show the advantages of PV:

It is made in Excel, if desire the original, contact USA Kilts.

It is helpful on some other materials.
Steve is very helpful on the non-wool materials he uses, but he can speak for himself, as I am not NEARLY as informed.

If interested in solids, I'd look into heavier, hard surfaced wools (but that me).

[JimB]

I have used duck with some success, but you have to sew the pleat edges for the pleats to hold their shape. In my opinion, of the non-wool alternatives PV is the best (but harder to find), followed by poly cotton (same stuff that Dockers is made out of and widely available).
You can get wool in solids and generic plaids from many online sites.
Try a google search and use "wool plaid fabric", or "woven wool fabric".

[MacWage]

I get my solid toned wools here:
(used for my balmorals/bonnets, and my other projects)
http://www.96districtstorehouse.com/
96 District Storehouse
111 Trinity St.
Abbeville, SC 29620
864-366-9600
sales@96districtstorehouse.com

Of course, I drive there, so I get a REAL good look at the color tones and hand BEFORE I buy anything.
Unfortunately, good wools are VERY hard to find in my area. THAT is the ONLY store I know of that consistantly stocks good wool.
(They DO NOT carry worsted tartan, but do have some saxony wool tartan- saw Wallace, Black Watch (highly stocked for American Rev. reenactors), Dress Stewart, and some few others, but forgot which ones.
They also stock horsehair canvas and many "natural" fibered cottons, linens, and the like.

[ChattanCat]

Pv? Poly vinyl ... I have not hear of PV. Going to have to look into it.

[way2fractious]

Pv? Poly vinyl ... I have not hear of PV. Going to have to look into it.

PV - Polyester/Viscose blend is also known as Polyester/Rayon blend in the U.S. Very nice material.

[Dreadbelly]

Not all PV is created equal though. There are some really light ones, 4 and 8 ounce, not so good for kilts. There is 11 ounce, and the ever so elusive 16 ounce PV. Good luck with that!

Be aware though that there are health risks associated with the teflon coating on PV.

[furrycelt]

Not all PV is created equal though. There are some really light ones, 4 and 8 ounce, not so good for kilts. There is 11 ounce, and the ever so elusive 16 ounce PV. Good luck with that!

Be aware though that there are health risks associated with the teflon coating on PV.

there exists 16 oz PV? who? what? where? when? how much?

and what are the health risks of teflon?!?

[MacWage]

Also, one advantage of wool:
-Cottons burn VERY well (but doesn't melt, unless poly/cotton blend, then depends on nature of blend)
-Plastic based material often (not always- depending on plastic type) melt or burn with fumes when set on fire; there are MANY types of plastics and each has different characteristics and pros and cons
-Wool puts self out when on fire

Main issue: if fall on campfire, set on light bulbs, plane or car crash
Same issue with ALL clothing, not just kilts

-IF fire concerns you, take a swatch/scrap and a match/lighter and do a flame test to see if it meets your satisfaction. Most (I hope all) of the material used by our kiltmakers should be fine, I'd lean toward their materials. My main concern would be the fabric store mystery blends, as not all commercially available fabrics are intended for human clothing.

KNOW the NATURE of what you put on your body and whether the risks are high or very low in your situation

[SoldierSpike]

Just out of curiosity does anyone know of a heavyweight Nomex that would be suitable for kilting?

Marc