Not a kiltie at present

[Kiltman]

Welcome from Eastern Washington State.

[Mael Coluim]

from the Old Dominion State!

Life is about choices.

[7 miles]

Welcome from the Southestern U.S.

[SteveB]

Hello and a warm from Boston, Massachusetts. Like others on this thread, I recommend Jerry at Stillwater Kilts, Look in the semi traditional line for a tartan that is on your list. Should you order one from him, expect it to come to your doorstep within seconds of hitting the "submit" button. After the first kilt, there is many tartans available on Rocky & Kelley's USA Kilts site. They make great made to measure kilts with excellent customer service. For a self colour kilt, or modern kilt Steve Ashton at Freedom Kilts is excellent. Nice fit and ...pockets. For a kilt to wear at the games or ren-fest, Sport Kilt makes a good "beater" kilt, that is perfect for getting grungy on the field of competition.

[Morris at Heathfield]

My apologies to the Gilmores/Morrisons for leaving them off my list. You'd think I'd remember I had a Morrison connection.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes!

jordanjm and mbhandy: Greetings from an expatriate Utahn! If I decided to get a kilt in a US state tartan, the Utah (State/Centennial) tartan would be my first choice. Do you see it worn much where you are?

Jack Daw and Cynthia: Greetings from a (relative) neighbor! I couldn't have made it to the Houston games, but I intend to be in Arlington on the 7th of June—kilted or not.

James MacMillan and Coinneach: Greetings from a longtime Californian!

jordanjm: I think saffron would be at the top of my list if I was considering a solid-color kilt, but to me tartan is at least half of the reason to wear a kilt. I might consider a non-tartan kilt for an occasion in which a kilt is appropriate, but a tartan is not—if such an occasion exists; but in that case I would think something like pinstripes would be the most appropriate. At any rate, I don't think I'd consider a solid-color kilt until I had a whole closetful of tartan kilts. (And maybe a few made of patterned diamond twill—the Anglo-Saxon kilt! )

jerry, michaelbeeman, and SteveB: A Stillwater Thrifty-Kilt would almost be an impulse purchase (at least, if I didn't take the necessary kilt accessories into account), but I'm not sure I see the point of getting one if I still intend to save up to get a wool kilt eventually. Maybe if I felt I absolutely had to be kilted by the Arlington games.... I see they seem to be adding new tartans from time to time, so I'll keep my eyes open. I'm still not sure how I feel about acrylic, though. I've never seen an acrylic kilt up close.

Jack Daw: Buchanan is certainly an obvious choice, but I'm not convinced yet it's *the* obvious choice. Even though I wore a Buchanan plaid shirt for many years, I think I'd prefer a more subdued tartan for a kilt than the usual Buchanan tartan. I do think the "Buchanan Muted (MacGregor Hastie Variant)" produced by the Celtic Croft is quite a handsome tartan for a kilt.

BEEDEE: Well, I'm actually not trying to choose between different clans/surnames so much as between different tartans from those various clan/surnames. As a descendant of Campbells, MacDonalds, and Stewarts, I'm well aware of my embarrassment of riches in this respect.

Donnie: I'm not Celtic—I'm mixed! I don't suppose it takes as much courage to put on a kilt as to actually step outside your door wearing it. I've done it before, though, so I suppose I could do it again.

ardchoille: I suppose that's the best advice: assume that I will end up with a certain number of kilts eventually, and that my first choice doesn't necessarily preclude any subsequent choice.

McMurdo: I recently found out about both Stewart lines. If I were to go for a Stewart tartan, my choice would be pretty easy. I was happy to find a Stewart ancestor in Angus because it's fairly close to Atholl, and I always did like the Stewart of Atholl tartan, as well as the similar Kerr.

Daibhidh O'Baoighill: Thanks for the greeting! I must say I'm a bit self-conscious about my Campbell ancestry, even though (or perhaps because) I tend to identify with it (hence my current Campbell of Breadalbane/Breadalbane Fencibles tartan avatar). I'm not sure why I do so much, though, seeing as I also have Graham, MacDonald, Ogilvy, and Stewart ancestors; and the Graham line is one generation closer to me than the Campbell line. I've always been fond of the MacDonald of the Isles tartan, and the MacDonald of Clanranald tartan is growing on me. (Although Allan is an overloaded sept—four different clans claim it, according to Scots Kith & Kin.) MacRory is claimed by both MacDonald of the Isles and MacLaren, but there is also a MacRory (or MacRurie) tartan, which I find quite appealing. I believe it's terribly uncommon, though, so it's one of those that would have to be custom woven.

Thanks to everyone who offered me advice! I've made no decisions yet. Should that change, though, I will be sure to keep you all informed. (And maybe even post pictures! )

[Jerry]

If you consider ordering a kilt at your local games, be sure it is not from Clansman Knitwear.

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.

I had done a country report on the United Kingdom, and we were encouraged to dress up in the national dress of our country, so I thought a kilt was the obvious choice.

As a Scot, I always find the reference to "United Kingdom" rather perplexing, as to whether this is intended to refer to all the countries who have allegiance to the same monarch, which would include Canada or Australia, or only to those nations within the Bristish Isles. It always strikes me as one of those daft catch all phrases which can be used if the pull down menu has omitted to include Scotland.
I have always thought of the kilt as a Scottish garment, rather than a United Kingdom garment, though it is fair to say kilts are also made in England and Wales.

[Jack Daw]

Jack Daw: Buchanan is certainly an obvious choice, but I'm not convinced yet it's *the* obvious choice. Even though I wore a Buchanan plaid shirt for many years, I think I'd prefer a more subdued tartan for a kilt than the usual Buchanan tartan. I do think the "Buchanan Muted (MacGregor Hastie Variant)" produced by the Celtic Croft is quite a handsome tartan for a kilt.

Morris;

There's more than one buchanan tartan. I prefer the hunting modern over what I affectionately refer to as the Patridge Family Bus tartan. Take a look.

[Cynthia]

Morris: I'm actually close to Ft Worth (just north of it). My husband and I are hoping to be at the Arlington Games in June. There is a thread in the Highland Games part of the Events section of the board (I should go bump it up again, since we're getting closer). Keep an eye on it as well as the Kilt Night events section.

There is also a D/FW social group that some of us have joined. We're still getting used to that feature and haven't used it a lot yet. Just a few great social networking things to use for those of us who live in the area.

Hopefully we'll see you around soon! Best wishes!

[Jock Scot]

Welcome,from Inverness-shire.