Knockabout kilt

[Steelkilt]

I would think wool might develop pulls and wear from too much rough work.

My biggest concern, though, would be cleaning. If you're doing yard work in it, you're going to want to clean it often. For me that would mean I would want something I could throw in the washer with no fuss. Second consideration would be practicality; if you're just mowing the lawn and raking, a kilt would be fine. If you have to be up and down off the ground, bending over, possibly climbing up on things, trousers may be more comfortable.

Thank you for your input- the wool standing up to wear is my biggest concern. As for trousers, in the summer here (Central Valley of CA) it is MUCH more comfortable to wear the kilt.

[Steve Ashton]

OK, I assume that a fabric that is machine washable would be preferable to one that must be dry cleaned. So - this leaves you with Acrylic or Poly/Rayon.

Of those two the Acrylic is for those who price is the primary consideration like Highland Games Heavy Athletes who will destroy a kilt and need to buy a new one each season.
or those who may not wear the kilt very often or who are not sure this kilt thing is for them.

The Poly/Rayon fabrics are for those who want a machine washable kilt that will still look good after many washings.

These two kilts are right off my rental rack. Both have been machine washed multiple times. The Wallace kilt has been washed at least 26 times and not been touched by an iron since the day it was made.



Now to the Tartan. While the weathered color version of Black Watch is not available in the Poly/Rayon line there are others that you may like.

This Gray Highlaner is very close to the same in color tone.


Buccleuch is nice


Heck, even Black Watch in the modern version is nice.


And there are many more that will give you a very nice look.

But your statment "PV material is that it doesn't need internal elements to preserve the fabric the way wool does" is, I'm sorry, not correct.

It has to do with how the kilt is constructed that makes the difference. The Casual style kilts are not made with the internal elements to save time and money.
But a synthetic kilt can be made exactly the same as a wool kilt with all the internal elements and will be very close to the look, swish, and longevity of the wool kilt.

But, when we machine sew a kilt we sew though all the layers of the fabric in the Fell. This stiffens the back of the kilt in a similar manner that the interfacing of a wool kilt does. So we can leave out the interfacting on a machine sewn kilt without loosing that vertical stiffness. But we still need to give the kilt horizontal strength where the straps and buckles are. The fabric is not strong enough. This is the main difference between the Iconic style, the Contemporary style and the Casual style of construction.

[Steelkilt]

Thank you for the correction and the great options! Would the semi-traditional from USAkilts be made like a traditional kilt with internal strengthening elements?

[Steve Ashton]

Honestly, that would be a question best asked directly of Rocky.

You can contact him here within the USA Kilts forum section.
or
Via email - sales@usakilts.com
or
via phone - toll free - 1-800.368.8633

[ratspike]

Thank you for the correction and the great options! Would the semi-traditional from USAkilts be made like a traditional kilt with internal strengthening elements?

Unless the construction has changed since I bought mine in 2014, no. I've worn it a ton and never been particularly careful about cranking down on the straps and it's held up just fine. If it were me, for just banging around the yard I'd save 120 bucks and get a casual instead.

[Katia]

Thank you for your input- the wool standing up to wear is my biggest concern. As for trousers, in the summer here (Central Valley of CA) it is MUCH more comfortable to wear the kilt.

I meant "comfortable" in terms of not worrying about what you may be showing off (or what others may think you may be showing off).

[Steelkilt]

I meant "comfortable" in terms of not worrying about what you may be showing off (or what others may think you may be showing off).

Gotcha! I’ll be working in a yard that doesn’t have neighbors looking on (rural, 2 acres), so that shouldn’t be too big an issue (unless they’re coming over to see what the deal is with the kilted gardener!).