Quote Originally Posted by jsrnephdoc View Post
Never having attempted anything more complex with needle and thread than re-attaching a button, I'm in the dark about the actual differences in quality between one with hidden but machine-stitched pleats and one with hand-stitched pleats. I'm guessing that some of it relates primarily to tradition.

Next week my NYC son and I will visit USA Kilts. They make two different price-point types of 8 yd woolen kilts, one where the pleats are made using"top-stitching" (easier to do and visible to anyone who knows what to look for) vs. hidden stitching. In both instances, however, the stitching is done by machine. I wonder whether there really IS any difference in quality between a carefully made kilt made by someone who stitches the pleats by machine vs. someone who does it by hand, given that a well-operated machine is capable of incredibly uniform output, but I hope to find out. I have only one kilt made by hand, and I'll wear that for my visit and see what I learn.

I'm excited for my visit because the people at USA Kilts seem uniformly happy about their work (and that's evident in their emails and phone calls). On topic for the thread title, however, I'll ask them about the "puffy-faced-dog" dress sporrans they sell (SOMEONE else must like them, since they offer them for sale, but they also sell the "Ghillie Shirts" so maligned so often here.
Ask about their Premier style which they outsource to Scotland.