Weigh in on Weights

**DamnthePants** · 25th January 10, 03:03 PM

I just have a quick question about weights; of fabric mind you.

I am getting ready for another wedding, my sisters. She has decided her color pattern is black and purple. So I wanted to get me a nice purple tartan (suggestions welcome, though I was planning on getting a USAK Pride of Scotland).

My only problem is I cant remeber my weights right. I have been buying Stillwater Standard kilts, and they are nice. they are nice and heavy, and generaly feel like wearing a kilt. I have one from the Frugal Corner, that though its a quality product, it feels kind of, thin, if you know what I mean.

I just had a revelation though; does this feeling come more from the yardage of the kilt, or from the weight of the wool/cotton used in the making.

Much Appreciation, DTP

**Tobus** · 25th January 10, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by DamnthePants

I am getting ready for another wedding, my sisters. She has decided her color pattern is black and purple. So I wanted to get me a nice purple tartan (suggestions welcome, though I was planning on getting a USAK Pride of Scotland).

As it so happens, I was browsing USA Kilts' site earlier looking at tartans, and I distinctly remember one that was primarily black and purple that I thought looked really great. So, since you asked for suggestions, this is the one that caught my eye. He has it listed as Highland Mist in 16 oz from MM.

Personally, if I were buying a brand spanking new kilt for a wedding, I'd go 16 oz, 8 yds. I don't have enough experience with the wide range of weights to answer most of your questions, but I dare say you couldn't go wrong with 8 yds of 16 oz wool in terms of weight and swish and just plain awesomeness.

**MacBean** · 25th January 10, 03:48 PM

Ask the question directly of Rocky at USA Kilts if he doesn't reply here. He has lots of kilts and lots of experience. 8 yards hangs better than 5 yards, but costs more too. I have a 5 yard 16oz, and though I like it fine, will be getting an 8 yarder soon.

**lethearen** · 25th January 10, 03:55 PM

Where is the wedding located? I agree with the 16 oz 8 yarder, especially for formal situations... and doubly so if the wedding is in Maine! You'd probably be ok to go down to 13, but I'd definitely go for 8 yds.

The feeling of "thinness" probably would come from the weight of the material, methinks. It's less substantial, inch for inch. The yardage would affect how heavy the kilt is in toto, and the swing, but it wouldn't really affect that feel.

**The Wizard of BC** · 25th January 10, 05:29 PM

We weigh fabrics for Kilts by the ounces per fabric yard where 1 fabric yard is equal to a piece of the fabric 60 inches wide X 36" long.

1 fabric yard = 2 Kilt yards.

1 fabric yard is also 2160 square inches of fabric. So if you don't know what the weight of the fabric in your Kilt is you can simply measure along the Hem of the Kilt in inches and then multiply that by the total length of the Kilt from top of Waistband down to the Hem.

Then you will need a postal scale or something which will record the total weight of the kilt in ounces.

Let's say that all the planets are aligned and your Kilt has exactly 8 kilt yards of fabric when measured along the hem. That's 288 inches.
Then let's say your Kilt is exactly 24 inches long.
24" X 288" = 6912 square inches.
Now divide by 2160. 6912 / 2160 = 3.2 fabric yards.

Now put your kilt on the postal scale. If it weighs approx. 3.2 pounds your kilt is made from 16 oz. fabric.
If it weighs approx. 2.6 pounds your fabric is 13 oz.
If the Kilt weights about 2 pounds your fabric is 10 oz.

**Geoff Withnell** · 25th January 10, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

We weigh fabrics for Kilts by the ounces per fabric yard where 1 fabric yard is equal to a piece of the fabric 60 inches wide X 36" long.

1 fabric yard = 2 Kilt yards.

1 fabric yard is also 2160 square inches of fabric. So if you don't know what the weight of the fabric in your Kilt is you can simply measure along the Hem of the Kilt in inches and then multiply that by the total length of the Kilt from top of Waistband down to the Hem.

Then you will need a postal scale or something which will record the total weight of the kilt in ounces.

Let's say that all the planets are aligned and your Kilt has exactly 8 kilt yards of fabric when measured along the hem. That's 288 inches.
Then let's say your Kilt is exactly 24 inches long.
24" X 288" = 6912 square inches.
Now divide by 2160. 6912 / 2160 = 3.2 fabric yards.

Now put your kilt on the postal scale. If it weighs approx. 3.2 pounds your kilt is made from 16 oz. fabric.
If it weighs approx. 2.6 pounds your fabric is 13 oz.
If the Kilt weights about 2 pounds your fabric is 10 oz.

Would not a kilt from 16oz material weigh more than 1 lb/fabric yard due to lining, steeking, straps, etc?

Geoff Withnell

**fluter** · 25th January 10, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

Would not a kilt from 16oz material weigh more than 1 lb/fabric yard due to lining, steeking, straps, etc?

Geoff Withnell

Ah, but we also removed part of the fabric in the pleats! So within the bounds of hand-waving approximation, we're close.

The steeking is heavy duty thread. There's a strip of stabilizer (broadcloth, canvas) between the buckles, some hair canvas which is probably close to the weight of the pleat cut-outs, lining is pretty light. Hmmm.

**Geoff Withnell** · 26th January 10, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by fluter

Ah, but we also removed part of the fabric in the pleats! So within the bounds of hand-waving approximation, we're close.

The steeking is heavy duty thread. There's a strip of stabilizer (broadcloth, canvas) between the buckles, some hair canvas which is probably close to the weight of the pleat cut-outs, lining is pretty light. Hmmm.

Ahh, we are talking SWAG method here. OK, I'm not a kilt maker, just a kilted engineer, so I was curious.

Geoff Withnell

**fluter** · 26th January 10, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

Ahh, we are talking SWAG method here.

I personally was waving my hands. My approximation of a 13-ounce, roughly 24' x 25" kilt, is 3 pounds. The Wizard, besides being an engineer, probably has better a better scale than I. Come to think of it, I have a better scale than before, I should do it over.

If you haven't perused The Book, I predict that you'd find it fascinating.

**Geoff Withnell** · 26th January 10, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

I personally was waving my hands. My approximation of a 13-ounce, roughly 24' x 25" kilt, is 3 pounds. The Wizard, besides being an engineer, probably has better a better scale than I. Come to think of it, I have a better scale than before, I should do it over.

If you haven't perused The Book, I predict that you'd find it fascinating.

I own a copy! Wonderful!

Geoff Withnell