Affordable Fabric?

[chasem]

Well, from what I've read of M.A.C. Newsome's post/blog/website, a great kilt was around 4 yards anyway, rather than the 8 we usually think of (which will help bring your cost down).

That being said, you can pick up 4 yd remnants from F&K for ~$100 or so, which seems to be within your $125 budget.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to?...

I have never seen a great kilt worn anywhere but in a highland or historical re-enactment type of setting. Since, at the time the great kilt was commonly worn, the importance of the clan / tartan connection was not as entrenched as today, I raise the question whether the identity of the tartan should be of particular importance for a great kilt in that context.... to be factually correct. I know there are members on the board that can "time-slice" the issue better than I, but I suppose the end decision rests with the end user. Tartan identity certainly becomes more of an issue where the little kilt is cencerned.

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[davedove]

Well, from what I've read of M.A.C. Newsome's post/blog/website, a great kilt was around 4 yards anyway, rather than the 8 we usually think of (which will help bring your cost down).

That being said, you can pick up 4 yd remnants from F&K for ~$100 or so, which seems to be within your $125 budget.

It's four yards for double width cloth. Originally though the looms couldn't produce what we call double width. So, the cloth was woven twice as long in the smaller width, but in half, and sewn back together to make the necessary width.

But anyway, yes with double width cloth you would only need four yards.

[Jim H.]

What is the response to wearing a kilt at a Highland Game or a similar venue?

[Blu (Ontario)]

What is the response to wearing a kilt at a Highland Game or a similar venue?

At a highland games, a great kilt gets noticed! A little kilt gets little notice at all unless it's unusual. The great kilts I've seen have been worn by hitory buffs involved in re-enactments or story telling complete with authentic shoes, sword etc. I suggest that if you decide to wear a great kilt, be prepared to have your picture taken a lot and to answer lots of questions.

I don't know if the situation is the same at renfairs or not.

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[davedove]

At a highland games, a great kilt gets noticed! A little kilt gets little notice at all unless it's unusual. The great kilts I've seen have been worn by hitory buffs involved in re-enactments or story telling complete with authentic shoes, sword etc. I suggest that if you decide to wear a great kilt, be prepared to have your picture taken a lot and to answer lots of questions.

I don't know if the situation is the same at renfairs or not.

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You'll see several people wearing (or TRYING to wear:rolleyes: ) great kilts at the renfair, so you won't be noticed anywhere near as much.

[chasem]

It's four yards for double width cloth. Originally though the looms couldn't produce what we call double width. So, the cloth was woven twice as long in the smaller width, but in half, and sewn back together to make the necessary width.

But anyway, yes with double width cloth you would only need four yards.

my apologies, that is what I meant.

[Alan H]

Great Kilt....great stuff, but hang on here.

The Great Kilt was worn ....and we can debate precisely which decade and all until we go cross-eyed, but roughly from the last quarter of the 1600's to at the Drop-dead latest...1749. See, there was this little battle on the moor at Dramossie, and shortly after that Scots couldn't wear tartan at ALL, so the kilt pretty much disappeared until the Gaelic revivial in the early 1800's.

There are roughly (very roughly) about a dozen defined tartans that are known to exist and are documented as existing before 1749 an the Battle of Culloden. Every other tartan came into existance, or at the least, was "associated" with a clan after 1800. So the linkage of clan and tartan didn't happen until well after the Great Kilt ceased being worn on a regular basis.

OK in the late 1600's most guys who were wearing a great kilt would have purchased the material from the local weaver in their region. In other words, they bought "homespun" wool. Homespun isn't as tight a weave as "worsted" wool. It doesn't make as nice a formal kilt as worsted does...for one thing, it doesn't take as sharp of a pleat. But wait, you're wearing a Great Kilt, not a formal modern kilt. Who cares about pleats?

Buy Homespun wool, not worsted wool for your Great Kilt. Two good sources for homespun wool are the Celtic Croft, which advertises here at X Marks. They offer a number of tartans that are homespun wool and make super Great Kilts. The other source is Hamilton Dry Goods online. They have four tartans which approximate the look of homespun, and they're wool/nylon blends in four non-clan tartans. Pick the one you want, buy four yards of it (it's double-width) at EIGHT DOLLARS A YARD.....and you just spent $32 plus shipping for your great kilt.

Buy one of the "peasant" style linen shirts, a bonnet and a simple belt and you're there. Then you hit the REAL expense and challenge of your Great Kilt getup....the footwear. Good luck on THAT.

[davedove]

[QUOTE=Alan H]The Great Kilt was worn ....and we can debate precisely which decade and all until we go cross-eyed, but roughly from the last quarter of the 1600's to at the Drop-dead latest...1749. See, there was this little battle on the moor at Dramossie, and shortly after that Scots couldn't wear tartan at ALL, so the kilt pretty much disappeared until the Gaelic revivial in the early 1800's./QUOTE]

Well actually, it was the late 16th century, or the 1500's, but otherwise you're right on the mark.

[davedove]

Buy one of the "peasant" style linen shirts, a bonnet and a simple belt and you're there. Then you hit the REAL expense and challenge of your Great Kilt getup....the footwear. Good luck on THAT.

You'll also need some kind of pouch to hold things like your car keys, etc.

You can go with some of the less expensive moccasin style boots to start. They aren't completely accurate, but they're close and nobody will say anything. That is unless you run into the "period police".