Who actually OWNS a Scottish hand-sewn?

[David Woodington]

My very first kilt was a Hunting Stewart made by
Mackay et Stewart. I was measured by the people from Hihgland Heritage.It is my favorite of course.Well fitted,great hang and sway and nice and heavy.It's cost a little over 400.00.

Dave

[clancelt]

9 yard 16oz Keith Modern, 8 yard 13oz MacIntyre hunting, and 13oz 8 yard Gunn Modern.

[Riverkilt]

So here's a question. How about Kathy Lare in Albuquerque. She was trained at the Keith School in Scotland and goes back for more training, but does her sewing here in the U.S. Here credentials are on her website www.kathyskilts.com

Do Scottish trained hand sewers count?

If so she's done an 18 ounce Strome for me, an 11oz, and the X Marks and is sewing a 4th right now.

Ron

[eighties]

Gotta add my 13 oz Anderson tartan Hector Russell.

I was measured for it at the Edinburgh store 15 years ago and the darn thing still looks and wears like new. (It does fit a little tighter though. lol)

-80s

[Southern Breeze]

So here's a question. How about Kathy Lare in Albuquerque. She was trained at the Keith School in Scotland and goes back for more training, but does her sewing here in the U.S. Here credentials are on her website www.kathyskilts.com

Do Scottish trained hand sewers count?

If so she's done an 18 ounce Strome for me, an 11oz, and the X Marks and is sewing a 4th right now.

Ron

IMHO. According to the qualification in the original post she would.

[flyv65]

IMHO. According to the qualification in the original post she would.

Good: Kathy is the source of my most recent (and perhaps cherished) 16oz traditional Macdonald of Borodale (pictures to follow one day soon). my other 16 oz trad is from Celtic Craft Centre in Edinburgh-they set up a booth at the Longs Peak Highland Games about 5 or 6 years ago and it sucked me right in...my first kilt was a tank. I also have a 13 oz Williams of Wales trad from Alexis Malcolm, and a Black Watch SWK, but I don't really think of the first two as I do the Alexis kilt (there really *is* a difference between 16 oz and 13 oz), or the SWK (a casual is a casual-different design parameters). I'm looking forward to seeing the XMarks tartan fabric up close (just paid today), and I *still* wouldn't mind getting a box pleat from Matt in the 16 oz Isle of Skye. Plus all the other things that claim a part of my attention and funds

Bryan...flyfishing, motorcycles, and stereo equipment, and kilts all get less attention than Tracy does though...

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I have an 8yd, 16oz.wool in Canadian Centennial from Burnett's and Struth. As far as I'm concerned nothin compares to it..the pleats, the swing. Oh to try a 10 yard wool..David

Dang X... that would go around me TWICE!

That being said, I am leaning more and more to getting a bearkilt...

T... I know how much I admire and wear mine, and you just can't go wrong when they're made right. Look who I'm telling THAT to!

Well fitted,great hang and sway and nice and heavy.It's cost a little over 400.00.

David, that's actually a great price on a well-made "tank". Proper care and it will pay for itself by NOT wearing-out like some of the "cheapies". Atleast you know the stitching won't rip or pull with regularity.

Incidentally, I've gotten a few PMs and emails complaining about thread breaks and pulls from one kilt company. I know the stuff "breaks-down" with washings and dryings, so keep an eye out for such things before they get out of hand!

[Xcop]

Jimmy,
Some of us are just sturdy enough to hold up that much weight..and I'm no lightweight... actually its the weight and the swing of the pleats, so am hoping that more yardage will yield more and deeper pleats andthus more weight and swing. My acrylic kilts are great in their place, but just don't compare. The weight and swing...ITS A MAN THING

David

[Jimmy Carbomb]

The weight and swing...ITS A MAN THING
David

"Kilohana"

Another one that gets it ! Arrrrrrr! 8)

[ggibby]

Like David Woodington, I too, went to Maggie McConnell at Highland Heritage of Wilmington, DE for my traditional 8 yard, in Graham of Menteith. I'd no experience with such and wasn't actually sure where I was going to get the money ($400), but Maggie suffers no fools.

She measured me with a quick eye, then tape to confirm. When she wrote down my name, she said "You'll be wanting the Menteith then." At which I asked if I might see a swatch. She was right.

And the kilt is a thing of beauty. Before my casual collection blossomed, I wore it quite a bit, including (brace, laddie), a very rainy Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. The kilt still looks mightier than my casuals, but to an experienced eye, well, some pressing might be in order.

When my brother finished university after only 5 1/2 years, we called Maggie for his kilt. As he & I are the same size & shape, she used my measurements. It's a Montrose, and a sight to behold as well. Check my gallery for our grad-day photo op.

I do admit, though, 'tis the texture that keeps me away from it. Indeed the movement and overall grandeur call to me, but, well, PV and cotton blends are nicer on my skin. I feel a cad to admit it. And going out in public wearing a $400 anything makes me nervous for my knockabout self. Life gets dirty sometimes.

Maggie warned me never to let a dry cleaner do more than spot-treat my preciousss, which then begs the question:
Where in Houston can I get my kilt pressed (ahem)?