kilt hem finish?

[Paul Henry]

it could also be the tenter hook marks, usually they disappear , but if it is a brand new kilt, there might still be evidence of them,if anything that would be the sign of a good weave!

[Javahaggis]

Thanks Paul - didn't know that these holes could disappear. My wife is totally not convinced though - she says the cutting isn't straight at the bottom, the stitching isn't finished off well, and for some reason at one edge they have put a little hem on the bottom and it looks uneven (sorry hard to explain what I mean) - anyway will still be querying it. I was fitted in the edinburgh shop and asked for the heavy weight 16 oz. May be I'm just a typical Scot and want my money's worth which incidentally was nearly £300.
Javahaggis

[Paul Henry]

£300 sounds about the right sort of price, well not unexpected at least!
but if you are not happy talk to the kilt makers and I;m sure that any decent one would want to sort it out and make you happier.
the little hem at the bottom might be a small curved one, just for a few inches, is used so that the under apron doesn't show below the front apron ( if that was the little bit you meant)

[ronstew]

Where are you, Javahaggis? Maybe you are in the neighborhood of somebody knowledgeable who can have a look at it for you.

[Javahaggis]

Boy - you know your kilts.
Yes it is a little curved hem, and at the left side pleat underneath the front apron. I'll explain that one to the wife!
Thanks for all your advice.
Will hopefully talk to the company tomorrow about the kilt weight query, and other doubts. I just didn't want to jump in with lot of complaints and show my ignorance about kilts (which I probably have done here!).
Javahaggis.

[Javahaggis]

Ron. I am in scotland. As I said before I have hired many kilts and just never noticed this on them before. I wanted to get the best I could, and I knew I would have to pay for it, but was just a little perturbed by these elements on it that I noticed. Over critical probably!
Might see if I can compare this relations kilts - not sure what they have weight or otherwise though.
Javahaggis.

[Barb T]

It sounds like you actually have a pretty good kilt. As Paulhenry says, both of the places that the hem is turned up at an angle is part of a well-made trad kilt. If you don't turn it up there, the back layer tends to sag down and show from the front.

Even the best tartan is not absolutely straight along the selvedge edge (the bottom of the kilt). This is not a cut edge - it's where the shuttle reversed direction for the next shot during weaving. If this were a cut edge, it would ravel. A selvedge edge will not ravel because there are no free or loose ends. If one color pulls a little tighter than another, the edge won't be quite straight. But, unless it's a terrible weave, it won't be noticeable when you wear it.

Barb

[Blu (Ontario)]

Don't worry about the little holes along the selvedge. I have 2 Locharron made kilts that have that. If your kilt is like mine, the holes are very small and will be invisible when the kilt is worn. I believe these holes are an artifact from the weaving process as the finished cloth rolls off the loom. By all means, contact the vendor if you're still concerned.

[Hamish]

It sounds to me like a good kilt, Javahaggis. At that price it will almost certainly be hand-sewn rather than machine stitched - and that's definitely a plus point.

If I might be so bold, I'd suggest that your complaints are based not so much on obvious faults in the kiltmaker's craftsmanship, but more on you own lack of understanding of the finer aspects of the hand-made kilt. I intend no offence, believe me, but I fear you might be jumping to conclusions here and it might be as well to do some research before embarrassing yourself.

When you were in the Edinburgh kiltmakers shop, ready to place your order, were there not on display examples of their own work? Did you not ask to see other kilts they had sewn? Did you select your tartan from a swatch of fabric samples? What made you select this particular kiltmaker - his reputation, his prices or was it purely a chance decision?

I have dealt with four major kiltmakers in Edinburgh in the past seven years and between them they have tailored 27 of my kilts, every one of which was absolutely faultless. I would not ask you to publicly name your kiltmaker at this stage, but I should be very interested indeed to know who it was. Perhaps you will send me a Private Message or an E-mail through my "X Marks the Scot" member profile, to give me the details. If nothing else I should be able to give you some idea of your kiltmaker's reputation. I have bought from only four, but I have knowledge of many of the others!!