Kilt Q's - worsted wool and 3/2 straps

[Panache]

Since Worsted wool has been covered by the experts, I shall offer a comment on straps.

If you like the look of a strap on your hip by all means order a kilt with three straps.

It really is only there for appearance's sake. A well made kilt only requires two.

In days of old military kilts were worn much higher up the rib cage and two straps were needed for a proper fit. Civilian kilts followed the fashion of the three straps even though they were worn lower.

I personally prefer two.

Cheers

Jamie

[James MacMillan]

I am continually surprized about the things I learn here. I have two, very similar wool sweaters - one is itchy, one is not.

So I just went and checked the tags, and sure enough the non-itchy one is worsted wool!

Thanks Steve.

[ccga3359]

I am continually surprized about the things I learn here. I have two, very similar wool sweaters - one is itchy, one is not.

So I just went and checked the tags, and sure enough the non-itchy one is worsted wool!

Thanks Steve.

It could be that the non-itchy one is Merino wool. I don't know what the Australians do to their sheep or who coined the term animal husbandry... I don't care because I find that Merino wool doesn't itch.

[James MacMillan]

It could be that the non-itchy one is Merino wool. I don't know what the Australians do to their sheep or who coined the term animal husbandry... I don't care because I find that Merino wool doesn't itch.

Merino wool was a new term, so I went googling and looky what I found!

These look pretty good for the price!

[O'Neille]

The longer the fibers the fewer sharp pointy ends stick out, which equals less itching. If the fibers are all oriented the same way and twisted tightly then there is less itching also. Lambs wool is only cut on one side so the only half the itchy poky bits are there to irritate you. So everything that can be done to reduce the sharpness of the cut fibers will reduce itching. That's why I own nothing made from rag wool, essentially recycled wool fibers that tend to be short and very itchy.

Science to the rescue. http://www.livescience.com/technology/050613_wool.html

[PaulX608]

Merino wool was a new term...

My new kilt that Rocky at USA Kilts put together is 14oz. Merino wool, and it is very soft. Not worsted, but not itchy at all.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just a quick answer to the original question. If a reputable kiltmaker is advertising "pure new wool" in their kilts, chances are that it is worsted. It used to be that you could either have your kilt made from worsted wool or saxony. I don't know any tartan mill that is producing saxony cloth these days, so as long as the kiltmaker is getting their cloth from one of the standard suppliers of tartan (i.e. Lochcarron, or House of Edgar, not JoAnne's fabric), it's going to be worsted.

The only exception would be Regimental weight cloth, which is a worsted/saxony blend.

To answer your second question about the straps, click below:
http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/0...lt-straps.html

[Robinhood]

This discussion on worsted wool sparked
a thought from my (thoroughly lousy)
memory. I recall reading somewhere that
worsted wool is commonly finished with
a process that makes is smooth. It involves
a machine that steams or dampens the
woven fabric with hot water and
then flattens (felts) it with little hammers
as it rolls over a metal roller. The fabric
which is already pretty smooth because
there are very few short fibers' ends
sticking out, becomes very smooth and
shiny.

This process is to my recollection the
opposite of fulling, where short fiber
woven wool is felted in a bath and
allowed to shrink and thicken, and the
short fibers' ends encouraged to fluff out.
This makes nice warm but itchy blankets.

[It is interesting to note that some peoples
surnames relate to the work their ancestors
did, which in this discussion explains the
names Weaver and Fuller. I don't ever
recall ever hearing the name Worster,
or Woerster (I don't think Worcester is
related). Maybe there is a different name
for this process, which people still carry.]

[ChattanCat]

BTW, I have made all my kilts with two buckles.

[mrchris]

Back in London now, but when I'm back home again for christmas, I'm going to wander round to the kiltmakers and get fitted up for that kilt then.

It's a reputable kiltmaker, so I'm presuming it's worsted, and if not I've no doubt it's a good quality wool, so will serve my needs (weddings, and occasional events).

2 straps it'll be too, I think I prefer the look of 3, but as it makes no practical difference, I'm happy to go with 2 as the price is quite good.