Ok I'll post this again for those who want to know the actual weight of the fabric in their kilts. (and for those who missed it last time or who's eyes glaze over when I drop into Engineer mode.)

There is a difference in "Fabric yards" and "Kilt yards". A fabric yard is double-width. So to make an 8 yard kilt you first start with 4 yards of double-width fabric. A kilt yard is the linear length of fabric in your kilt regardless of its drop.

We measure fabric weight at double-width. 1 yard long by 60" wide. If the fabric is 16oz this yard of double-width will be 1 pound.

Got that so far? Now comes the arithmetic part.

1 yard = 36 inches
multiply 36" X 60" and you get 2160 square inches in 1 fabric yard.

OK, now how many fabric yards are in your kilt you ask? Simple. Measure with a tape along the bottom or hem and find the total length of the fabric in your kilt. Take this in inches.
Now measure the total length of the kilt from hem to top of waistband. Also in inches.
multiply the length of the fabric by the length of the kilt.

Let's say your kilt has exactly 8 kilt yards. That would be 288".
Let's also say your kilt is 24" long. That would be 24"

288 X 24 = 6912 square inches of fabric in your kilt.

Then devide 6912 square inches in your kilt by 2160 square inches in a fabric yard. And, viola, you find that your kilt is actually 3.2 fabric yards.

If the fabric is 16 oz. then this kilt would weight 51.2 ounces or 3.2 pounds.

Now you need a good scale that weighs in ounces. If you don't have one go to the post office with your kilt and ask to put it on the postal scale.

OK, now you know the exact weight of your kilt and you know how many square inches of fabric is in it the arithmetic is pretty simple.


As a rule of thumb ---- if your kilt has exactly 8 kilt yards of fabric, is 24" long and is made from 16oz fabric the kilt will weigh 3.2 pounds.
If it is made from 13 oz fabric it will weigh 2.8 pounds.

Just remember when determining the weight of fabric that you must find the exact amount of fabric in your kilt in square inches. "Length along the hem" X "length of kilt".

This is a pretty accurate system. We don't really worry about the weight of the straps and buckles or the thread used to sew the kilt.

All you need is a tape measure, a good scale and a calculator. (or a slide rule for those of us who remember how to use them.)

If you want to know the actual weight of the fabric in a kilt before you buy it, the best advice is to call the person you are buying it from. If they don't know, or won't tell you, then it is a good bet that you are going to get something significantly different than what is advertised.

But of course you don't have to worry about that with Jerry at Stillwater. He is a very upright guy and because he has seen this question over and over I bet he knows exactly what his fabric weighs. So call him and ask.