It's here! My first Tewksbury has arrived!

[sjrapid]

That's one very nice kilt, Hamish. Congratulations.

Best regards

[Celtic Amazon Goddess]

Great looking kilt !!!!!! does that come in a mini kilt for women as well ?

[andyfg]

Great kilt Ham. I notice you put the kilt belt through the loops at the back. A number of the books say that is only for the sporran strap (Barb herself, if I'm not mistaken!), not the kilt belt itself. As you are the oracle, have they got it wrong?

[elitekiltedcommando]

Dandy kilt, Hamish!

[Hamish]

Many thanks for all the very nice compliments chaps - all the praise should be directed to Barb, not me!!

To answer Bob C and Andy regarding the belt loops: No Barb did not give me any lectures. She simply asked whether I wanted loops or not, and I chose to have them. Regardless of what the books, and some of the more knowledgeable kiltmakers here tell us, I DO wear my belts through the loops, and I NEVER put my sporran straps through them! That was how I was instructed to wear my kilt some 45 years ago, and that was how they were shown in the many kiltmakers paper catalogues I collected many more years ago - and so I have always worn mine that way.

I am aware that a properly fitted kilt does not need a belt but, to my eye, a belt just 'finishes' the look of a fine kilt - they somehow appear naked without one. About the only time I do not add a belt is when dressed in my Prince Charlie, or when wearing any other buttoned-up waistcoat.

As for the sporran straps: I see no point in threading them through the loops. The straps sits perfectly well along the bottom edge of the waist belt without slipping down, and besides when you wish to slide your sporran round onto a hip (and there are several occasions daily when I might need to do that!!), the strap with it's buckle and keeper is free to move. Put it through the loops and the buckle gets caught up preventing you moving the sporran more than an inch or two. No, for me it has always been, and always will be: belt through the loops, but not the sporran strap.

[Hamish]

Great looking kilt !!!!!! does that come in a mini kilt for women as well ?

I guess any tartan can be made into a lady's mini-kilt - there are no rules against it as far as I know! You just need to track down a dressmaker or kiltmaker who will do this for you. Not all qualified and esteemed traditional kiltmakers will turn their hands to mini-kilts however, but there are some who do branch out in that direction. It has been many a long year since I wore a mini-kilt (!), so I am afraid I am unable to recommend anyone to you, but I am sure some of our sisters and brethren here will be able to advise you.

[GMan]

The Isle of Skye is one beautiful tartan.

I congratulate the both of you for such a fine looking Kilt.

[Riverkilt]

That's a beauty Ham,

Its an honor to have you wear the tartan of my ancestor's Island.

I'm beginning to wonder if the X Marks Boys have more X Marks Tartan kilts or more Isle of Skye tartan kilts.

In any event, the Isle of Skye tartan has become the unofficial official tartan of the X Marks board.

Ron

[Panache]

A wonderful kilt Hamish!

Though frankly I'm surprised you didn't have a kilt in such a lovely tartan already.

I am glad you have corrected this oversight.

Cheers

Panache

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Hamish, that is one georgeous kilt! Barb is an artist. I do love the Isle of Skye tartan-maybe that's what I'll set my sights on for Panache next. I doubt I'll have the guts to tackle that for my first traditional kilt though-I'm going to have to practice a lot first.

...of course, my fiancee said she would leave me if I ever owned more kilts than she has shoes! women! go figgure!

Unless your wife is a very unusual woman, doesn't that leave you a lot of room for kilts? Besides, if you ever find you are catching up, you can just buy her more shoes!

Be well,