Walking in a Kilt--the Scottish "Swish"

**freddie** · 24th May 14, 12:12 AM

Yes 'swing' not 'swish' It's 'The swing O' The Kilt!'

**jfraser** · 19th May 14, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

Well said, and I couldn't agree more. When I blossom forth in my kilt, it's as if I have a thousand Macpherson clansmen walking behind me. Not to mention; my Highland ancestors, Chief, clan, kith and kin are all "with" me when I proudly wear the Macpherson tartan. Call it a "pride in Highland ancestry, and from whence I came." There's no doubt that I walk taller and with more of a purpose whilst wearing Highland Dress. Much along the lines of when I used to wear a U.S. Marine Corps uniform. Same feeling of pride.

Heavyweight kilt woven in the Macpherson Reproduction colours by D.C. Dalgliesh and made by our own, Barb Tewksbury.

I have a friend who was a university lecturer and a player of the GHB and I would describe him as somebody with more than his share of intelligence. On a trip to Scotland he decided to visit his ancestral lands and after settling in to his accommodation and being a very still night decided to play his pipes by the loch side. After a few warm up tunes he moved on to a piobroch and felt he was achieving a level of playing he had never reached before and he described the experience as spiritual and he was convinced that he was not alone and that his ancestors were with him. Your statement mentioned above would be easy for him to relate to as he now describes wearing of the kilt in much the same way as you do.

**Grouse Claw** · 23rd May 14, 10:13 PM

I believe in physics it is called resonance. Each kilt has its own natural swing frequency. So if we stimulate the kilt at the right moment to make it swing it carries on with little extra energy needed. That means we try out a range of walking paces. When you get the right one (say, 90 paces per minute) you don't have to worry any longer, physics will take care of it. It's just like hiking. Your body has a certain speed at which you expend the least effort to keep going. I've noticed that if I take slow walk it is not long before I'm at my natural speed again.

**MacThomas** · 24th May 14, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Grouse Claw

I believe in physics it is called resonance. Each kilt has its own natural swing frequency. So if we stimulate the kilt at the right moment to make it swing it carries on with little extra energy needed. That means we try out a range of walking paces. When you get the right one (say, 90 paces per minute) you don't have to worry any longer, physics will take care of it. It's just like hiking. Your body has a certain speed at which you expend the least effort to keep going. I've noticed that if I take slow walk it is not long before I'm at my natural speed again.

Although a scientific approach is valuable, I think it should be natural maybe there are some tips for that but would it be still natural?

**tundramanq** · 24th May 14, 09:26 AM

Now I am going to have to watch my shadow this evening walking away from the sun at various cadences....

**Grouse Claw** · 25th May 14, 02:45 AM

If it works, it can be described by physics, and it will be according to the nature of the physical world—natural. Now we have to ask the kilt makers for a certificate of the kilt's resonant frequency! Laugh or cry, as you wish. I don't like emoticons.

**HootinHoller** · 25th May 14, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Grouse Claw

If it works, it can be described by physics, and it will be according to the nature of the physical world—natural. Now we have to ask the kilt makers for a certificate of the kilt's resonant frequency! Laugh or cry, as you wish. I don't like emoticons.

Actually, each pleat is a pendulum. The length of the pendulum will determine the natural frequency of the swing, the impulse timing of the step will determine if that energy will be additive or subtractive to the amplitude of the swing. Because there are many pendulums (pleats) that interact with each other either in or out of phase, the math gets a bit complicated with lots of things to track and frankly, if it's harder than 2+2 arithmetic then I get lost anyway.

It's similar to pumping your legs at the right or wrong time on a swing, the frequency is determined by the length, the speed and amplitude is determined by the energy input.

**Grouse Claw** · 25th May 14, 03:36 PM

lots of things to track

That's why we have to experiment.

**Pleater** · 31st May 14, 04:17 AM

the lampposts along our cul de sac are spaced just right to cast shadows so that kilt oscillations can be inspected very easily.

I think that the natural way to walk in a kilt will develop in the first few wearings and could be entirely unnoticed by many wearers as there will simply be a natural walking pace which feels right.

There is also a natural running pace - where the pleats travel in a flurry. This actually varies with length and weight of kilt for me, the longer lighter Summer weight kilts I have seem to require a faster pace.

I once felt the connection to - something. I was at Stirling University about 40 years ago now and one morning there was a thick mist down as I was walking to a lecture. In the far distance there was the sound of bagpipes, and as I stopped to listen the mist appeared to form lines and begin to march towards me from the direction of the playing. The mist gradually departed and the sun began to show through.

I can't describe the feeling - I definitely felt an impulse to go and do something, I didn't know what but it was going to be great and it would change the world, and anyone trying to stop me had better watch out.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: