Travelling to Scotland - Great Kilt or different type

**OC Richard** · 12th February 23, 05:05 AM

Personally, on my various holidays in Scotland I've not packed a kilt.

A Highland outfit would take up too much valuable luggage space.

The exception was when I was travelling with a Pipe Band and obviously we wore our band uniform when performing in Scotland, just as we do when performing here in the USA.

**jthk** · 17th February 23, 09:10 AM

If you want to wear your kilt, wear it. As for being marked as a tourist -- so what? You are one. Nothing wrong with that! I have travelled in Scotland (and in other countries) while wearing a traditional kilt and if anything, was received well. Most often, no one said anything. After a nice walk up Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, I saw a man biking in a great kilt -- I was informed that he was a local. I wouldn't do it myself but ... I saw it.

Whenever I wear either traditional kilts or the belted plaid (in a modern context), I always try to be as neat and tidy and contextually-appropriate as I can, no matter where I am in the world.

Ooops, I re-read your post. Sorry! Yeah, you can buy a "great kilt" -- just fabric -- from kinda anywhere.

As someone who wears one regularly, my sweet spot is 13 oz wool. 11 oz for warmer weather. 16 oz is nice for a traditional kilt but I find it too much for a great kilt.

Regards,
Jonathan

**LoE** · 10th March 23, 07:30 PM

I'd just order it from USA Kilts, personally. They've been great for me.

I ordered 4 yards of HoE MacKay muted from them, which is only available in single-width. Not useable for a great kilt. But like you I wanted a great kilt. So they simply took 8 yards, spliced it together perfectly, frayed the ends, and sent it to me fast. It just took a few emails to them to get them to make that custom order.

The best part is that operation consumed 8 yards of fabric, but they priced it the same as 4 yards of double-wide. I was shocked at the price. Making it myself would've cost twice as much just for the fabric.

They do incredible work. I love that kilt. It's my favorite.

**LoE** · 10th March 23, 10:04 PM

PS.

I agree with jthk that 13oz is the right weight for a great kilt.

16oz feels like wearing a tank. It's so stiff and heavy that one can bend the needles of brooches or clan pins trying to stick through it. Hot, stiff, & heavy. It's uncomfortable at summer games.

13oz is perfect.

**LoE** · 10th March 23, 11:28 PM

It's not pertinent to this thread. But I'll post it anyway. The fabric for this great kilt is gorgeous and comfortable.

I can't wait to unveil it at the highland games. Here's a sample. I couldn't resist.

Click image for larger version.

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**OC Richard** · 17th March 23, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by LoE

16oz feels...so stiff and heavy that one can bend the needles of brooches or clan pins trying to stick through it.

As you probably know, in spite of the Hollywood trope, brooches weren't used with the Belted Plaid/Great Kilt.

Thus when the Belted Plaid was the standard garment, the issue of sticking things through the fabric didn't come up.

**OC Richard** · 17th March 23, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by LoE

single-width...not useable for a great kilt.

I could be wrong but my understanding is that the Great Kilt/Belted Plaid was always made from single-width cloth because that's the width the 18th century hand looms did.

So yes the two lengths of cloth had to be sewn together.

I love the House of Edgar "muted" palette!

Blue & green-based tartans look great in it, and red-based tartans look great too.

**LoE** · 17th March 23, 09:57 AM

I wasn't aware brooches weren't used. How would the historical Scots secure 16oz belted plaid at the shoulder? It's too thick to tie the ends together. I tried and couldn't do it.

I'm aware historical looms were single width. That they were spliced. These days we have double width, so that's what most use for great kilts. In fact I was advised by multiple parties NOT to splice single width.

It didn't bother me though, as I knew it was historically accurate. And now that it's done, I can say the splicing doesn't impede the hang of the pleats in the least. At least not with this 13oz fabric.

I love the HoE muted line. One of these days, maybe they'll start producing in double wide.

**figheadair** · 17th March 23, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by LoE

I wasn't aware brooches weren't used. How would the historical Scots secure 16oz belted plaid at the shoulder? It's too thick to tie the ends together. I tried and couldn't do it.

A loop at a corner or on the top edge which was then attached to a button, or another loop, on the shoulder.