Hello everyone! I've been a long time lurker on the forum and have just decided to join up and start getting into the knitty gritty of things. I'm a member of the Scottish House of Burnett and own a number of kilts of casual cut (Sportkilt and the such), but never one of my own House (something I plan to rectify as soon as I get this whole kilt making thing down) or one of which I would feel comfortable wearing to anything more than a pub crawl.

Now I've done a LOT of reading on here and have started assembling my tools and materials, but I do have some questions:

1) Where does everyone buy their material? I'm looking to pick up a number of medium weight tweeds and the such to make my first couple of kilts and just really haven't found anything I've been fond of in the Southeast Michigan area, any suggestions other than Joann Fabrics or Wal-Mart

2) I do NOT own a sewing machine. As of yet, this has been of little consequence. I've mostly only ever done hemming jobs on jeans or that kind of thing.... but should I start looking into investing in a sewing machine, and if so- what is the best "bang-for-the-buck" to be found out there? Ebay? Department Stores? I'm clueless.

3) Are there any tools, toys, etc. that I should look into as having as staples in my collection?

I really look forward to learning as much as I can from everyone on here, there has already been so much I've been able to pick up so much from just reading, but now that I've got the basics, it's time to dig in and really have some fun!

-Derwood