"Heavyweight"

[bubba]

I recall seeing someplace (damned if I can remember where) that the MoD was switching to the more common 16 oz for their kilts as an economy measure citing the fact that since kilts are only worn for dress and parade there's no longer a need for the heavier and more expensive kilts.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I recall seeing someplace (damned if I can remember where) that the MoD was switching to the more common 16 oz for their kilts as an economy measure citing the fact that since kilts are only worn for dress and parade there's no longer a need for the heavier and more expensive kilts.

People are a very resourceful and creative species. At some point the high cost of worsted wool will surely trigger a responce from manufacturers to provide a more widely available and more economical medium and heavy weight alternative. Something heavier than 11oz. would be nice.

Here's a silly question... is it possible to make a heavy kilt usig lightweight fabric but just use more of it... say 12 or perhaps 16 yards? I imagine that the math for the pleating would be interesting.


blu

[Barb T]

Nope, wouldn't work. The number of pleats that can be put across the back of the kilt is not infinite. Even if you wanted little bitty pleats (say 1/2" at the hips, which would admittedly look odd), and even if you were pretty good-sized (needing a kilt that's 22" across the back), that would be 44 pleats (yikes!!). Light weight tartan typically has setts no more than 6.5" across. 44 x 6.5 = 286, or 8 yards across the back of the kilt. Add another 2 yards for the apron and underapron, and you can see that 10 yards is about the max you cram into a kilt with 44 pleats. If you'd even want to.....

Barb

[bubba]

Here's a silly question... is it possible to make a heavy kilt usig lightweight fabric but just use more of it... say 12 or perhaps 16 yards? I imagine that the math for the pleating would be interesting.

blu

The only way I can see doing that is to double layer the fabric and I expect that would create an entirely new set of headaches.

[Barb T]

And it still wouldn't solve the wrinkling problem. One of the real values of heavier weight tartan is that it holds a crease really well and doesn't wrinkle.

B

[Archangel]

I recall seeing someplace (damned if I can remember where) that the MoD was switching to the more common 16 oz for their kilts as an economy measure citing the fact that since kilts are only worn for dress and parade there's no longer a need for the heavier and more expensive kilts.

...and CDN DND (do not drop) is going to velcro to cut back on sizes.