Hey Rocky, Big Question.

[Dreadbelly]

As I sit here fiending for my kilt, I am pondering my next purchase.

And I want to know something.

Can your outfit make a great kilt? With the way you make your other kilts, with sewn down pleats, stunning good looks, and obvious quality?

I only ask because most folk that sell great kilts sell them for ren fairs... And they look like poo in the pictures. They are obviously made as a costume, not a serious garmet. Pleats are all crooked, most are made of cheap material, and just don't look right. The others I have seen cost hundreds of dollars, on occasion over a grand, and look fantastic. Way out of my reach. I was wondering if you (or the lovely Kelly) could fashion a great kilt for every day wear that didn't break the bank. Yes, I would actually wear one on a daily basis. I like how they look, how they hang, and the general distinguished look they present. A great kilt made for every day wear, as they should be. Not a cheap costume or something so expensive that you keep it locked away forever in a cedar chest.

If you can, how much? Anything made from PV would be fantastic.

[RockyR]

Hey Dr D...

We haven't made them as of yet, but we do have one girl who sews for us who has made them for her husband before. It was her own design and wasn't too bad (not FANTASTIC, but not bad). Give me a call at the shop and we can discuss the details of what's involved and if you want to move forward with it.

[Dreadbelly]

**Throws hands into the air and squeals like a little girl**

How's that for an image?

After the plastic is paid off a bit, I plan to do just that Rocky. No mention of price. Not good. Bad enough to not mention it in polite company?

I had this crazy idea that with your 3 kilt styles, or maybe just the 2 higher end ones, that you could "turn" them into a great kilt for X amount of dollars. The Philabeg being a midrange model, would be so so. The Traditional would have all the bells and whistles. However that might work. On the Philabeg, figure out a system of velcro or whatever to hold everything, while on the Traditional there would be metal and leather buckles. Kinda get what I am saying?

It's probably a dumb idea. Let's face it, most men simply don't wear great kilts to anything but ren fairs. Which is sad.

Would make a LOVELY winter kilt. You could market it as such.
8)

[David in Maryland]

I have a Great Kilt in the MacLeod of Harris ancient that I wear often during the winter time. Top part makes a nice cloak. It would be nice to have the pleats sewn in permently and look at nice as a regular kilt. Since almost everyone has either read So You Want to Wear a Kilt, or atleast quotes it, I shall quoute. In the section about plaids, the author makes the statement that he wishes more would wear the Great Kilt more often.

Just my two cents not asked for.

David

[macwilkin]

Let's face it, most men simply don't wear great kilts to anything but ren fairs. Which is sad.

I have several friends in the St. Andrew's Society in St. Louis who wear great kilts on a regular basis -- they look quite sharp with Prince Charlie jackets for formal events like Burns Nicht, etc., and one of my friends wears one for the St. Louis Scottish Games and other "casual" events too.

Cheers,

T.

[Dreadbelly]

Ok, that clinches it. God as my witness, my next kilt WILL be a great kilt. I read this piece on line someplace, as I was browsing one day for tartans, I have no idea where I saw it... While some will wear a kilt for day to day use (like us) there are many that feel that the great kilt looks rediculous in this modern age. I don't remember everything said in the little artical snippit, but, it got me thinking. Made me sad that it seems to be considered as a "costume" piece. Most don't take it seriously. I contacted a kilt maker through email, one selling a great kilt, when I started this journey a good while back, and I got laughed at because of my idea of getting one for day to day use. I don't even remember the kilt maker. But it was one of those ones that use the same models for dozens of different web sites and sell the same looking great kilt and greatly varied prices. It's hard to keep track of all those look alike companies. The expensive great kilts cost a lot of money. They were well made... But they were made like a wedding dress or a tux that you wear once and then put it up as a keep sake. Most didn't have sewn down seams, had to be dry cleaned, and were not a practical garmet for day to day use.

I WANT a practical day to day garmet. Like a comfortable pair of overalls, only with out the crotch crushing legs. A great kilt for some reason, when I look at it, screams comfortable. I don't know why. Something I can throw in the wash when it's dirty. Something I wont scream my fool head off if it gets dirty.

As for other kilt wears possibly thinking I might look a little strange... That would be sad if it happened. More people SHOULD wear the great kilt. Yes, a little kilt fits in better with the modern age. You can make it look dressy or casual. You can almost make it fit into society's idea of "normal" what ever that means. But a great kilt seems to be the costume of Shakespearian actors, ren fair geeks, and fools. You can get away with wearing a kilt I guess, but wearing a great kilt would only draw more of the "where's the Celtic fest" comments I reckon.

There are those of us who want to make the little kilt a common accepted garmet. I want to make the great kilt a common accepted garmet.

Rocky, a big thanks for offering to try and do this. It means a lot. I look forward to doing business with you.

[Dreadbelly]

Let's face it, most men simply don't wear great kilts to anything but ren fairs. Which is sad.

I have several friends in the St. Andrew's Society in St. Louis who wear great kilts on a regular basis -- they look quite sharp with Prince Charlie jackets for formal events like Burns Nicht, etc., and one of my friends wears one for the St. Louis Scottish Games and other "casual" events too.

Cheers,

T.

Thanks. That is helpful actually. So they were them only for dressy occasions? Any of them wear them "just for the heck of it?" Are any of them full time kilt wears, little or great? Or weekend wearers? Don't take that the wrong way please, I mean no offense at all... I just want to know how they feel about their own kilts, and if it's just a dress up thing or something that applies to every day life. I have developed a curiousity as of late (Because of people here actually) as to how kilt wearing effects every day life.

Perceptions of "normal" mayhap, is what I am looking for.

I have spoke to the local St Andrew's Society. Awfully expensive exclusive organization. Nice folk, very helpful to me. Didn't talk down to me because I was dirt poor. Good people, at least here in my local parts. Made it clear though, in a very polite way, that I had no chance in joining.

[arrogcow]

I'm a little confused by your idea of a great kilt. You complaine that some people wear poorly made ones, and seem to be looking to someone to make one properly. A great kilt is just a very large piece of fabric, no sewing (unless you need to join two pieces of fabric together to make it wide enough) and is pleated by the wearer. check out http://www.geocities.com/dougalmacl/kilt_making.html
My first kilt was a great kilt, in the Aberdeen tartan that was woven specially for me (try finding Aberdeen, you can't with out a special order). I think that what your seeing is that people either don't know how, or don't take the time to put it on right.

Adam

[macwilkin]

My friends who wear great kilts are not "day to day" kilt wearers, but they do wear their kilts on a frequent basis for St. Andrew's Society functions, Burns Nichts, Highland Games, Tartan & St. Patrick's Day, etc. -- they wear them enough to make their investment worth while.

You might talk to the St. Andrew's Society's membership secretary and see if they can do an "installment plan" for membership fees; we've done that with some folks for our group. Most Scottish societies usually aren't that expensive ($10-$20 a year).

Cheers,

T.

[bubba]

A Great Kilt would be cool with the pleats stitched in place so you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you put it on. A good wide belt to hold it in place and a broach or pin would be all you need betond that. Stitching the pleats shouldn't be an issue since I doubt most of us would be using it as a blanket.