quality versus quantity

[Tartan Hiker]

The flat-out truth is that you can make a kilt for $40 worth of material that is a LOT better than a Stillwater Thrifty. However, that requires patience and some self-confidence and the ability to take on a project and stick to it.

And might I add that if I can teach myself how to make a decent kilt, anyone can.

[Alan H]

And might I add that if I can teach myself how to make a decent kilt, anyone can.

Tartan Hiker is pretty darned good at it, too. The same goes here. I've made some pretty darned nice kilts, kilts which I could not in all good conscience have justified spending the money on, if I'd had them made by someone else. I just can't make myself drop $400 + on an article of clothing, I don't care HOW long it's supposed to last.

Look, I've been lifting weights and working out hard for the Games. I do a LOT of core work. Now my waistline measurement is easily 2 inches bigger than it was two years ago. Kilts that I made two years ago don't fit. What if I'd saved and saved and saved and pinched pennies and pinched nickels and waited for four years until I had that $400+ to get a really nice nice.

Then I get bigger. Ooops, DARN, but now I can't wear it!

For the guy on a budget, IMHO the best route to go if you want a really nice kilt is to spend $15 on Barbs book.

Make an X-Kilt from the instructions you can download over in the DIY forum. This will cost you about $20.

Now make a tartan box-pleat kilt from some stuff you get off of ebay or off of Fraser and Kirkbrights remnants web page. Adapt the X-Kilt instructions.

Now buy Barbs book...$16

Dive into the project, stay patient, stay focused, and after probably 40 hours + of work, you WILL have a nice kilt that is way, way better even, than a Stillwater Standard.

[Rawlinson]

Now buy Barbs book...$16

It costs over twice that, following the link in her signature. It's even more on Amazon. Is there some secret way of getting it cheaply? (I didn't see it on eBay.)

He had posted earlier that he was involved in a Larp activity and was wanting a kilt to wear during battles.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/c...268#post801268

I probably should've mentioned that I do plan on wearing this kilt while fighting through mud and grappling people who're wearing armor (ouch... definitely need to find some sliding shorts). I hope it'll hold up well enough to wear for other purposes, but the main goal is to have an easy-to-wash kilt that I won't be too upset about tearing (I'd still be upset, but it's easier to part with $20 than $200).


I'm leaning towards buying the Economy (you know there are problems when a nearly broke college student can buy the economy) and attempting to make a sporran.

A friend of mine has a couple of kilts his fiancée made him, but no sporran. He said he's somewhat familiar with leatherworking, so I'm going to see if I can get my hands on some scrap leather (or pigeons) so we can make a sporran or two (or three... or a hundred... or a thousand...).

[davidlpope]

I probably should've mentioned that I do plan on wearing this kilt while fighting through mud and grappling people who're wearing armor (ouch... definitely need to find some sliding shorts). I hope it'll hold up well enough to wear for other purposes, but the main goal is to have an easy-to-wash kilt that I won't be too upset about tearing (I'd still be upset, but it's easier to part with $20 than $200).

Rawlinson,

In light of your explanation, disregard my former advice. For your specific purpose I think you're best to go with the cheapest kilt that SWK has. I had wrongly assumed that you were planning to wear a kilt as part of Highland Dress.

Cordially,

David

[Rawlinson]

I had wrongly assumed that you were planning to wear a kilt as part of Highland Dress.

I'd like to on a daily or almost-daily basis, but I won't have money to buy or time enough to make a good enough kilt for a while (I blame college for both). I am, however, expected to soon lead a Celtic unit that seems to be adopting the Black Watch tartan and name and am therefore expected to start showing up kilted.

Making a sporran on a budget thread

[NewGuise]

I am, however, expected to soon lead a Celtic unit that seems to be adopting the Black Watch tartan and name and am therefore expected to start showing up kilted.

In that case, and being unable to afford a bespoke kilt from someone on this forum, I'd be tempted to beg, borrow, or sell-myself-on-the-street-to-get the money to buy a Black Watch kilt from What Price Glory...

[Rawlinson]

With my price range and purpose, would a Sport Kilt of some sort be a better option?