Risking Patches

**Riverkilt** · 3rd July 05, 11:25 AM

Anyone else out there risking "decorating" their solid kilts?

Kate, over on the UK board is an advocate. I finally decided what the heck.

My caramel UK Workman's now has a Scottish flag patch on the right pocket and a Navajo Nation seal on the left pocket. Seems fitting since the caramel color is a perfect match for the sandstone here in Rez country.

My black UK workman's now has my father's War 2 fighter squadron patch on the left pocket (346th FS - a skull with two cobras for the P-39 Airacobras they flew) and his War 2 fighter group (the 350th FG) on the right pocket.

I purchased a hippie sun and moon patch for my denim UK but haven't ironed it on. Had a rainbow colored patch with the word peace on it but my lady took it for something of hers.

What I like about adding patches to my UK's is that it takes them out of the realm of plain solid kilts...sort of like decorating jeans.

What I don't like about adding patches is that I get this feeling that it might limit when and where I wear it. Like the black UK looks good plain too...but now it has patches.

Also have Arizona state flag patches on my Pittsburgh Kilt Arizona Flag tri color, one on the hip pocket flap and one where a kilt pin would go...but that fits with the presentation and helps identify the kilt for what it is.

I have other ideas for patches for other solid contemporary kilts, but have been going slow. The old adage, "You can measure a thousand times, but you can only cut once" comes to mind. Guess I could remove the patches after ironing them on, but suspect there'd be an adhesive residue.

Patches fit with who I am. I've tattooed my body and have stickers on my truck...guess its slopping over to kilts too.

Anyone else experimenting with individualizing their plain kilts?

Ron

**Dreadbelly** · 3rd July 05, 11:39 AM

I want to get a heavy black solid coloured kilt with a skull and crossbones on the front apron.

For those days when I simply must hoist the Jolly Roger and take the world by storm.

A snippet of history on the Jolly Roger.

No one knows the origin of the name "Jolly Roger" for the pirate flag. It is thought to have come from joli rouge (pretty red), a wry French description of the bloody banner flown by early privateers.

Whatever the derivation, the flags were meant to strike mortal terror in the hearts of the pirate's intended victims. They often featured skeletons, daggers, cuttlasses, or bleeding hearts on white, red, or black fields. The skull and crossbones motif first appeared around 1700 when French pirate Emanuel Wynne hoisted his fearful ensign in the Caribbean -- embellished with an hourglass to show his prey that time was running out.

In keeping with my desire to celebrate all of my cultures in my bloodline, I must now seek out and find pirate culture, seeing as how there were many pirates in my family tree.

I think a kilt covered in patches would be cool.

Even cooler... Travel the world. And find patches in other countries to mark the places you visit. Don't come home till your kilt apron is full of patches.

**Big Paul** · 3rd July 05, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly

Even cooler... Travel the world. And find patches in other countries to mark the places you visit. Don't come home till your kilt apron is full of patches.

Kinda like the previously mentioned Kilt Passport. Only in this case it would be a Passport Kilt!!:razz:

**Rob Wright** · 3rd July 05, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly

I want to get a heavy black solid coloured kilt with a skull and crossbones on the front apron.

A Captain Harlock Kilt, I love it! 8)

Rob

**Riverkilt** · 3rd July 05, 06:28 PM

Was just down at Navajo Bridge over the Colorado at Marble Canyon this afternoon and there in the Ranger's gift shop were two great patches for my UK denim. A Grand Staircase Escalante patch (where I roam a lot) in blue and a Navajo Bridge patch (where the California Condors hang out) in brown with a black condor.

Think I'm gonna put them on the pockets of my UK blue denim and put the hippie sun and moon patch on the left back pocket since its the same size as the big UK logo on the back right pocket.

I'll have a local "travel effect" that you guys are talking about.

Ron

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 4th July 05, 06:58 AM

Hey Ron, it's actually a kinda cool idea and one that I'm "sort of" doing. I decorate my UtiliKilt with pins instead. They're a lot smaller, and the shine on them is coherant with the studs on the kilt.

The beautiful thing is that I can change them, or totally remove them, at any whim. All Irish pins, Piping pins, sports pins, hardware pins... anything to theme-up the UtiliKilt. The BEST thing is that the fabric on the Caramel Workman's just closes-up when washed, so you would never know that there was a pin on the thing!

**arrogcow** · 4th July 05, 10:58 AM

I haven't done it yet, but my first UK (olive neo) has a small hole in the center of the pocket. I had thought about putting an old unit patch over it, but it is the wrong side. So I am probably going to put the unit patch on the other side, and a rank and branch patch over the hole. I just gotta get around to doing it.

Adam

**Riverkilt** · 4th July 05, 12:57 PM

I thought about pins Jimmy, but most of mine have the straigh pin back with the catch thing...pokes right at me. Do have some parallel pin stuff I might try.

Adam, you hit the same thing. I have two 45th Infantry patches (yellow thunderbird on red diamond background) that I wanted to put on my basil survival pockets to honor my uncle Don who slogged across France and Germany in War 2 with a tommy gun. He got shot up but always went back on the line and was in the first company into Dachau.

Anyway, keep thinking putting one unit patch on each pocket would look wrong. As if the kilt is supposed to be a replica of a shirt, or mimic a shirt. Option was to get some sergeant's stripes or find a 147th patch.

Funny how these little things slip in.

For the local small town parade and 4th of July gig in the park today I wore my black UK workman's with my father's squadron and group patches on the pockets and a black t shirt with the 45th Infantry logo. That way could honor both men.

Ron

**Atticus** · 5th July 05, 06:10 AM

I have a big New England Patriot logo patch (the Flying Elvis) on the front apron of my PK. Jeff made me a special two tone Navy and Silver kilt about 1 superbowl ago. Good sport that Jeff. I think it unusual that 2 fans from rival teams would get along so well.

Go Pats!

**macwilkin** · 5th July 05, 06:34 AM

I must admit this idea is very intriguing, even tho' I do not on a solid-colour kilt -- but, I have been collecting patches for a number of years, and I recently have been adding some to my knapsack to diplay family heritage and travels -- the Arizona flag, the Saltire, hopefully I will pick up an Iowa flag patch in August.

I say go for it! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd