Real committment to wearing kilts!

[JimB]

So you think that you’re committed to wearing kilts?
HA!!
I thought I was too until last night. I went to my first meeting of the Society for Creative Anachronism and right away focused my attention on a fellow wearing a rustic looking kilt who was busy spinning some wool.
As it turns out, he was spinning the wool from one of his neighbor’s sheep. He spins the wool, dyes the wool, weaves the wool and then makes his kilts from that.
He even made the spinning wheel he was working on including the metal parts absolutely from scratch. He made his cap from felted wool complete with celtic pewter device and had a sporran that looks like he took it off of Rob Roy McGregor himself. Nothing bought. All handmade by him.
This guy isn’t just dressing up. He’s really living the life. He works at a historic farm doing 19th century farming techniques and told me that he has worn nothing but kilts daily since he was 17. I estimate his age at around 40.
I would have asked him if he had heard about Xmarks, but he told me he hasn’t watched TV in 12 years so I doubt if he’s on the internet too much.
I just thought you might find this interesting. It kind of blew me away!

[bricelythgoe]

Wow! I am speechless. I just wish I was able to sew my own kilt. It thought I was getting pretty good since I was making my own sporran.

[piperdbh]

If you see that gentleman again, please pass along my admiration for his skill and self-discipline. With worldwide economies in a mess, we might all have to start producing more of our own stuff.
My Balmoral's off to him!

[mudd]

With worldwide economies in a mess, we might all have to start producing more of our own stuff.

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't know how many sheep I could fit in the back yard.

[Larry124]

Yes interesting.
Commitment? Or denial?
Spouse? Children? Friends? Neighbors? Workplace? (Real world) community?
I prefer to live in my own time, not in an artificially re-enacted and perhaps imaginary other.

[Howard Clark]

I live in the present myself. But I practice a trade that many would term obsolete.

I admire the fortitude. Self sufficiency is under appreciated today.

If it is working for him (and it must be to do so for so long) I would hardly call it denial. Seems a bit judgmental to call it artificial. I would venture to say it is more real than what most of us do and call "work". I would live such a life myself, were it practical for me to do so. It is not, for me.

I feel like a 19th century guy trapped in the 21st century sometimes. I would love to talk to this man.

[beowulf67]

That is impressive! I'm proud of myself when I sew a button on and it actually stays.

[puddlemuddle]

You know,
It's good to see that the SCA is possibly righting itself. You see waaaaaay to many 10 foot rulers in it for my taste. Which is why I switched over to actual 18th cent. reenacting (not that you DON"T have some of those in that hobby as well), but it is nice to see tahtthere are more and more people concerned with authenticity than just getting in the field to "bash things up".
Cheers to him!
Chad

[McFarkus]

There are times I wish I had the fortitude to do something amazing like that.

[David Dubh]

Most impressive some would think that it was a lost art form. Not being that talented I am in awe that he has been able to keep a this for so long! I presume that he wears the great kilt rather than our tailored kilt.