clanforum
General Category => General Scottish => Topic started by: A. Thompson on September 30, 2008, 12:14:15 PM
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Hi, just wondering. Is there any suggestions for places can get a Thom(p)son kilt? I only have blackwatch at moment, but would like to show the thom(p)son colors when can save up enough for a kilt. Also is there any other way I can show my membership in clan.
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Ask Mary, she can tell you how to get a kilt. We are so new that we don't have membership cards or certificates yet but I'm sure we will get around to all that soon.
By the way, welcome! :D
Barbara
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Hi Aiden,
There are many Thom(p)son Tartans, a quick google image search will show you many pictures. In the U.S. you will often see grey and camel in fashion items if you look for them and also scarves, but the Thom(p)son blue, red, and hunting are also rather common. There are more and there are variations in the colors and the weight of the wool (often 11 oz for kilts) can make a difference in appearance as well. You may also see notations of Modern, Ancient and Muted which gives color variations as mentioned below.
I just ordered a kilt from Alexis Malcolm http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.com in south Florida and she is wonderful. I have been speaking with her and corresponding for some time. She helped me research the tartans and weights available currently from different mills and gave me a pretty good education on tartan and kilt nuances, see below. She found a 13 ounce Thompson Hunting Muted for me that was exactly what I wanted. It actually has the dark greens, browns, and blues and none of the turquoise color you see in the Thompson Hunting Ancient.
From Alexis Malcolm
You probably know this but the designations of Modern, Ancient or Muted only replicate the ways in which the old berry dyes of a single tartan used to fade or weather. "Modern" designates the way the tartan would appear when freshly woven ( dark, rich olors). "Ancient" is the appearance of the tartan after the rapid fading of the original color or a lighter/faded look, ie; Dark Navy blue to a powder blue, dark forrest green to a turquoise & dark rich red to a more orangy red. The "Muted" or "Weathered" designations replicate the sun's weathering out of the original colors (a more "brownish" effect), but whether it's Modern, Ancient or Muted, it all still the same Thompson Hunting tartan. There is one small mill that weaves the Thompson/Thomson Hunting in the Modern colors, but only in the feather weight, 8oz. This weight is only suitable for scarves & light weight curtains. There is another mill that weaves it in the heavier 13oz. weight in the Thompson Hunting Muted colors
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Cool. Thanks. And yeh more looking for Thompson Blue in the 5 yard (more economically feasible)
Had found some sites, but they were mostly oversea and the american dollar isn't worth crap lol and shipping costs unknown.
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The Thompson Blue is the standard Thompson tartan. There are variations that some people prefer, such as grey or camel. There is a standard explanation out there that the "ancient" or lighter colored tartans are more muted because of the vegetable dyes, but that's pretty much an invention of the companies who make the cloth. Even the whole idea of clan tartans is a fairly modern invention. But the idea of a common tartan for all members is still a cool one, and you'd be surprised how easy it becomes to recognize your own clan at a distance by the tartan.
The weight makes more difference in a kilt, and the number of yards. 11 oz. is pretty lightweight, and won't swing as well as heavier weight cloth. 13 oz. is better. Worsted is the best. 4 yards is a casual kilt, a full kilt has at least 8 yards, more if you're large. That's where the expression "the full nine yards" comes from.
A good kilt is made by a kiltmaker, not by a seamstress. tehy may be able to sew brilliantly, but there are issues with making a kilt that only a kiltmaker understands. The pleats must be lined up a certain way in the back, one way for military, another for most civilian methods, but lined up nonetheless. A good kilt is hand sewn, never by machine. Find a kiltmaker who knows these things and you've got somebody who can do a good job for you.
You can buy an off-the-rack kilt for as low as a hundred bucks US, but real quality kilts start at $400 and go up from there. Six or eight hundred is not unusual for a really good quality kilt.
My random thoughts. Hope they help.
Michael
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I HAVE SEVERAL KILTS,ISSUED AND NON ISSUED. I HAVE MY REGIMENTAL KILTS.COLOQUIALLY CALLED 'BLACK WATCH' BUT CORRECTLY CALLED 'GOVERNMENT No.1' . I HAVE THE MACTAVISH ANCIENT/THE MODERN/ THE MACTAVISH OF GARTHBEG(WHICH IS DARK GREEN AND ERGO I CALL MY 'HUNTING' TARTAN) I ALSO HAVE A NEW ONE CALLED'HIGHLANDER' WHICH I WEAR TO ESTABLISH MY UNIQUE ROOTS TO MY PEERS. EACH KILT COSTS AROUND $600-$700.BUT IVE HAD SOME FOR 20 YEARS + AND DONT FORGET; I DONT WEAR TROOSERS UNLESS DPMs (FATIGUES).
APART FROM SPECIAL OCCASSIONS FEW SCOT IN THE CITYS WEAR THE KILT. THATS WHY I LIKE ARGYLL, KILTS ARE COMMON WEAR. ITS NICE TO IDENTIFY BY TARTAN TOO- AS MICHAEL SAYS. IF I WALK THROUGH OBAN AND PASS A KILTIE I SAY' GUID MORNIN' MR MACDONALD' OR WHATEVER IN ENGLISH OR GAELIC.
IN DUNOON THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL WEAR THE KILT AS UNIFORM. I ACTUALLY WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE KILT APART FROM WHEN DA WAS POSTED OVERSEAS WHERE IT WAS CONSIDERED A BAD IDEA IN PLACES LIKE MINDEN DUE TO NOT WEARING UNDERWEAR.
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I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT WEARING UNDERWEAR.ITS TABOO.IN ARGYLL KILTIES - MALE OR FEMALE- DO NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR.SPORRANS ARE WORN 'ON THE HIP' FOR DANCING AND ITS GREAT FUN WHEN SMOOCHING. NAE DRAWERS/ NAE BOXIES/ NAE SHREDDIES/ NAE NOTHING.EVER!
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That "no underwear" part really freaks my mom and my wife, but I go traditional, and so do my sons. Ask Harold, he "inspected" me in Estes Park. :-)
Stevie's right though, a good kilt will run upwards of $600 or more. If it's less than that, it's probably a "casual" kilt, or an off-the-rack thing that doesn't fit as well as a normal "custom" kilt. I do have a kilt like that, but it's not for formal wear.
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A casual kilt is more what was looking for anyways. I don't feel really need for it to be 8-9 yards. I have blackwatch kilts which are 5 yards and seems to cover well. I just would have to make sure the wool is good weight.
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I will let you know what I think of the 13oz - I have a sample swatch that sold me on it vs the 11oz even in Florida. I have an extra yard for a banner coming in a month and the kilt and a lad's kilt for the boy should be done a month later. My son Taylor age six will be happy about "no underpants".
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I want my kilt. I need to start saving
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Many of you know that Tom and I run a Scottish clothing store and here is some information for you (before you run off and buy elsewhere...cough, cough!)
OK - NOTHING has the swing of the full 16 oz, 8 yard kilt. On the other hand, it's heavy and you might not be comfortable with the weight or you may want a lighter weigh in a hot climate. The 13 oz is the absolute minimum weight for a kilt. 11 oz is a no-no, it doesn't hold the pleating well and the pattern is smaller in the 11 oz (it's designed more for women's skirts, sashes, etc). 8 yard versus a casual or sport kilt.......well, depends on your finances, planned usage and what you want! If you are going to wear a kilt occasionally (one or two games a year) it may not be feasible for you to sink the money into an 8 yard kilt. In that case, I would go with a casual kilt but in the 16 oz weight to give it more of the standard "look." There is very little difference in price between a 13 oz and a 16 oz.
PRICING --- you guys should be shopping with us! We haven't raised our prices in a number of years because our goal is to make kilts available to more people rather than to make big profits.....in fact, we lowered them about 2 years ago. We have EXACTLY the same kilt fabric and manufacturers that you are paying $600+ for from other vendors. We just aren't gouging you!
Our traditional 8 yard kilts have 3 buckles, are hand sewn with traditional fringed aprons, fully canvased and of the best tartan fabrics available.
Our kilts are $445 - $485 for 16 oz, 8 yard, hand sewn kilt made by professional kilt makers in Glasgow, Scotland, from your choice of Lochcarron, Marton, or Strathmore fabrics. Old Edgar fabric is higher, but all the Thom(p)son tartans are available in Lochcarron fabrics and they would be MY choice.
13 oz 8 yard kilts run $445 - $465............so, not much difference!
Casual kilts - our 5 yard casual kilts are made of the same fabrics, have 3 buckles and exactly the same finish inside as the 8 yard kilts - but they are machine sewn. Prices for 16 oz tartan are $290 (up to a 46" around the 'bum' measurement) - $360 (that's for a 60" measurement around the bum.....LOTS of extra pleating!). I think the prices are competitive....you can get cheaper ones but they won't be the quality and you won't have the choice of tartan (they are offered in common, limited tartans). Our 13 oz casual kilts are $285 - $355.
Our shipping on a kilt order is $20.
Send us an email for more info!
Mary
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Great message Mary, that really deals with the issue well. I do know people who have an eight yard kilt but don't wear it often because it's so hot, especially in the summer. The Highlands of Scotland as not as temperate as some of our areas in the US. Up in the mountains, it's nice though. So the casual may be more suitable for those in a warmer clime, or maybe the 8-yard in the 16 ounce. I always laugh about this because people ask me if I'm not cold in a kilt. It's actually a very warm garment.
And Aiden, it's not an issue of "coverage" that decides between an 8-yard or a casual kilt, it's usage. The 8-yard will be hand sewn with correct pleating, etc., whereas the casual one may have wider pleats and not "swing" the same way, as Mary says. If you want a kilt to wear to formal events, especially if there are real Scottish people there who know the difference, then you definitely want the 8-yard. Wearing a casual kilt to such an event would be like wearing a tee-shirt with a tuxedo printed on it to a black-tie event.
On the other hand, it you're mostly wearing it to festivals and such, the casual kilt is perfectly adequate. Just make sure it's a good quality worsted wool and made by a kiltmaker, not a seamstress. Kiltmaking is a very specialized art and even the best seamstress may not understand the issues involved.
While we're on the subject Mary, I do have a question. When I was measured for my Thompson kilt, the fellow asked if I wanted the "traditional" measurement, or to be measured where my pants ride. Wanting to be as traditional as possible, I chose that one, but I sometimes regret it now. The reason is, I have more belly than I really need, and since the traditional measurement puts the belt at the belly button, my kilt should be worn quite a bit higher than I usually wear my pants. I find that quite uncomfortable and the kilt tends to ride down to my actual waist, rather than the middle of the belly waist defined by traditional kilties.
Is the lower waistline considered gauche or uncouth at all? I have seen large bellied men with their kilts up in the proper place, but I just find it very incomfortable and hard to breathe with the belt around my middle, rather than just over my hips. Just wondered.
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Cool. Definantly will take Mary's option on consideration. However for now it might be a few months before can afford it maybe even more than half a year. Got to many things trying to save money for and not enough money LOL
If I can I could try save enough for the 8 yard but may have to go with the 13 ounce
Here it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter so hard to pick and choose something that works for both. I've worn kilts in either though but not sure the weight of them.
As for wear, I'm one of the unusual people around here. I'll wear it to festivals and such yes, but I also wear it as I would a normal pair of clothing at times. Just instead of pulling on a pair of pants or shorts I decide to wear the kilt. Most of what I do wearing it is casual. They won't exactly let me wear it to work or anything lol.
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While we're on the subject Mary, I do have a question. When I was measured for my Thompson kilt, the fellow asked if I wanted the "traditional" measurement, or to be measured where my pants ride. Wanting to be as traditional as possible, I chose that one, but I sometimes regret it now. The reason is, I have more belly than I really need, and since the traditional measurement puts the belt at the belly button, my kilt should be worn quite a bit higher than I usually wear my pants. I find that quite uncomfortable and the kilt tends to ride down to my actual waist, rather than the middle of the belly waist defined by traditional kilties.
Is the lower waistline considered gauche or uncouth at all? I have seen large bellied men with their kilts up in the proper place, but I just find it very incomfortable and hard to breathe with the belt around my middle, rather than just over my hips. Just wondered.
Well, the traditional is the higher waistline (approximately 2" above the navel for the top of the kilt). Tell you what --- I'll send your question on to the kilt makers in Glasgow and see what they say.....maybe they'll have an idea that could help!
Mary
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Is there a way to post the Thomp(s)on kilt colors on here. I cant remember if it was Mary or someone else that sent me an email with all 6 tarten colors in it
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Hi Graham,
Just do a google image search for Thompson Tartan and Thomson Tartan and you will find many pictures, some better than others...
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Check under the clan webpage HISTORY links for TARTANS.
Mary
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Do you have a webstore Mary?
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http://www.clanthompson.org/tartans.html
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Thanks
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While we're on the subject Mary, I do have a question. When I was measured for my Thompson kilt, the fellow asked if I wanted the "traditional" measurement, or to be measured where my pants ride. Wanting to be as traditional as possible, I chose that one, but I sometimes regret it now. The reason is, I have more belly than I really need, and since the traditional measurement puts the belt at the belly button, my kilt should be worn quite a bit higher than I usually wear my pants. I find that quite uncomfortable and the kilt tends to ride down to my actual waist, rather than the middle of the belly waist defined by traditional kilties.
Is the lower waistline considered gauche or uncouth at all? I have seen large bellied men with their kilts up in the proper place, but I just find it very incomfortable and hard to breathe with the belt around my middle, rather than just over my hips. Just wondered.
OK - I did contact Bob at Gaelic Themes in Scotland and here is his answer to the "waist" of a kilt:
"Hi Mary,
Sorry for the delay in responding.
I’m not familiar with the kilting habits in North America but I do know that casual, leisure and utility kilts are more prevalent over your side of the pond and these are often worn much lower. Wearing your kilt at your pants waist is not generally accepted in Scotland, but North America may be somewhat different.
I would say it is akin to many fashions. Wearing the kilt at your pants waist at a formal event is certainly not the done thing. Moreover the jackets for such occasions are cut based on the assumption the kilt is being worn at navel height, so it would look somewhat odd to wear the kilt lower.
Worn casually there is more leeway with the wearing of the kilt (as with any causal wear) but I would say where possible, wear the kilt at navel height (some larger gents even wear braces etc), as you will avoid the “traditionalist” passing comment that the kilt is not being worn correctly. It may be that the gentleman could do with having a slight adjustment here and there as even larger gents should find the fit relatively comfortable at navel height
Bob"
So, there it is from the proverbial 'horse's mouth.' This guy KNOWS kilts - trust me! I don't know if this helps any, but maybe you could play around with the buckles on yours and see if you need to have them moved (this can be done fairly easily) to put the 'pull' where it should be. One of the bigger problems with kilt-fitting are the guys with no butt (like my husband) and they end up with suspenders (braces) or having to really cinch the thing just to hold it on! I prefer the suspenders.
Mary
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HI GANG; JUST BACK FROM YOUR ROOTS..AYRSHIRE/DUMFRIES AND EDINBURGH. QUITE A LOT OF THOM ANCESTRY IN = ANNAN/CASTLE DOUGLAS/ AND A WEE PLACE CALLED TORTHORWOLD.
RE KILT WEARING WITH A PAUCH OR LACK OF SEAT. HAVE YOU GUYS CONSIDERED WEARING THE PHILAMHOR RATHER THAN PHILABEAG?IT WOULD MATTER NOT WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BELT OR IF YOU LACKED A BUTT.......
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RE KILT WEARING WITH A PAUNCH OR LACK OF SEAT. HAVE YOU GUYS CONSIDERED WEARING THE PHILAMHOR RATHER THAN PHILABEAG?IT WOULD MATTER NOT WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BELT OR IF YOU LACKED A BUTT.......
That may be a good idea MacT. I did have a Philamhor once, but it was just plaid flannel from the local store. Have to find an affordable source of Thompson tartan that's wide enough. My flannel one is only like 42 inches and it's hard to get a good drape on the shoulder with that, even though I'm not all that tall. Seems like it should be at least 60 inches, and 72 might be more like it. Have you worn the Philamhor? What's your experience?
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Well, I have enough grey tartan on hand, but it's polyester (bought for flags and table covers!)
The wool kilting fabric from Lochcarron is prohibitively expensive, but it is 60" wide....
Mary
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ive worn the philamhor and wore it wandering around the highlands with friend andrew goodie. great. not as smart as the beag but very comfy and TRADITIONAL. looks great with the jacobite shirt and boots with rolled down hose!
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Mary said:
OK - NOTHING has the swing of the full 16 oz, 8 yard kilt.
OK Mary, all this talk about the swing of a kilt on a man has me slavering here..... ;D I love to walk behind the men and watch the swing of their Kilts, it's so, so, well, sexy! :-[ :P ;D
It seems to me if you plan to wear the Kilt for years it's well worth paying $445 - $485 for the 16 oz, 8 yard, hand sewn kilt made by a professional kilt maker from Tom and Mary's store. That's a lot cheaper than from other stores, and it can be handed down to your sons or grandsons.
Barbara
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HI BARBARA..........IM CURRENTLY WRITING MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY. I WAS GIVEN AN ADVANCE BY MY PUBLISHER 8 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN PROCRASTINATING EVER SINCE.
PLEASE PLEASE DEAR BABS; IT IS NOT THE SWING OF THE KILT .....IT'S THE TILT OF THE KILT AND THE SKIRL OF THE PIPES!
ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED IN MY LIFE IS THAT I HAVE AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO ATTRACT STRANGE EVENTS!
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Hiya MacT, from my point of view, walking behind a man in a Kilt it's the way the Kilt SWINGS back and forth, it's mesmerising. ;) ;D I do love the skirl of the Pipes too! ;)
Well, get busy with that Autobiography, I want a signed copy of it! :-*
Barbara
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The wool kilting fabric from Lochcarron is prohibitively expensive, but it is 60" wide....
That's my problem too. At $75 a yard (and that's the low end), eight yards will run you $600 in fabric alone.
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Nope.............misconception!
An 8 yard kilt is made from 4 yards of 60" wide fabric that has been cut in half and joined at the ends into one long piece, 8 yards long, but only 30" wide.
If you're looking at a great kilt, you need 4.5 yards of 60" UNCUT. On the old looms, weaving only 27-30" wide, the fabric had to be woven 9 ells long, then cut and put together to be 4.5 ells (approximately 4.5 yards) of 60" fabric! Voila.......the term...the WHOLE 9 YARDS). To understand this better, see http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Celtic_History/great_kilt.html
So....with wide fabric, you cut and sew ends to make it long......with long, narrow fabric, you cut and sew to make it wide!
Mary
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I just ordered a yard of Thompson Hunting Muted that is coming from House of Edgar and it is 56" wide. They have already started switching some weaves back to the 27"ish looms though. If you are getting any raw tartan either get the demensions or at least find out if it is single wide or double wide. Normally your kiltmaker will take care of it for you.
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If you're looking at a great kilt, you need 4.5 yards of 60" UNCUT.
So Mary, I'm seeing tartan fabric widths of 54 to 58 inches. Is that wide enough for a philamhor? And then I'd only need four and a half yards?
I'm also seeing prices of £55 (which is about US$93 at current exchange rate) down to $75 a yard. Do you have sources with better prices, or could people order from you?
Michael
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Which tartan, Michael?
Yes, it would be wide enough for the Feileadh Mor. And the 4.5 yards would be the minimum but definitely "do-able"........... It's one of those things that vary by the person...how much extra fabric they want to wear and how much time they want to put into getting ready and ON!
You can order from us....but if you're looking at the ancient Thomson red (used by MacTavish) or the hunting, you have moved into THE most expensive category of tartan fabric and it's $85.00 a yard plus shipping in the US. And, believe it or not, we're competitive at that price - you have to consider the cost of shipping fabric from Scotland has already been added to the wholesale price and if you're selling 16 oz for $90 or less, it's fair pricing with a (no, I'm not kidding) small profit margin. I think the fabric is overpriced from the wholesalers, but I can't do much about that. Very probably, the fabric will be shipped from Scotland unless it's a popular tartan.
If we ever get large enough to have the money and interest, we can have our tartans woven and cut the cost per yard by about half.................
Mary
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I'm generally inclined to the Thompson Blue. Thanks for the information.
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The kilt I ordered for my son through Tom & Mary's company, the Tennessee Highlander, arrived today. Its really nice! The price was good and I've got
to say that our Mary really knows her stuff! I'm so pleased with the kilt and
I know my son is going to love it! If you're in the market for Scottish clothing
please check out their web site.
Donna
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Anyone want to donate one as a house warming present to me???
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Donate a kilt???? I don't know what you're on, but I want some! :) What are your waist/butt/length measurements.....Lochcarron maintains a sale page for distrbutors and sometimes a Thompson kilt shows up there.......
Glad you're happy with the kilt, Donna......we had another one come in at the same time for a fella in New England and he was delighted. He was a bit leery because our prices were lower, but agreed the kilt was every bit the quality of either of the other two he had purchased - one from Lochcarron and one from someplace else. He also has a Prince Charlie and vest and a lovat grey tweed Argyll day jacket and vest on order. The kind of order you love!
Mary
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I hope Donna bought the Dress Blue---it's too late for me to change and I can't aford another.
And Mary does know her stuff!
Booner
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Hey Booner
Yes, I did get the Dress Blue! It's so pretty that I want to wear it myself.
Which tartan did you get? From the photos you posted of the Estes Gathering, I thought yours was the Dress Blue also. I'm having a problem trying to hang it...the clips on the hanger can't hold the weight of the kilt.
Donna
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Tom lucked out - I had some multi-skirt hangers from when we lived in Germany and they could hold up a mountain.
My best guess would be the bulldog dlips from OfficeMax or Staples. They come up to 3" wide. You could open them over the bottom wire of the hanger and clip them onto the kilt. You could put 4 of them onto the hanger if needed so you would have 2 for the front waist and 2 for the back. These are about the only things strong enough that might open wide enough that I can think of.............. anyone tried it?
Mary
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I HAVE-SURELY NOT SOLELY UK-HANGERS I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN ABOUT.......................
2 PIECES OF STRAIGHT WOOD ABOUT AN INCH WIDE X8 INCHES LONG WITH RED FELT INSIDE. THE WOODS ARE JOINED BYA METAL COMPLICATED HOOK THAT LOCKS WHEN WOOD BARS ARE PLACED EITHER SIDE OF THE KILT WAISTS.A LARGEST VERSION OF THIS=
http://www.caraselledirect.com/_/cedar_wood_trouser_clamp_hanger.1114-1php?View_Type=Category&CatergoryFrom=81
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THAT DOESNT SEEM TO TAKE YOU THERE SO TRY=
http://www.caraselledirect.com/
go to clothes hangers and see the cedar wood trouser clamps!
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go to trouser hangers...............the cedar wood trouser clamp hangers! get there eventually!
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Hmmmm.....Tom had some of those but they didn't open wide enough! Maybe the newer ones are better? I also don't remember red felt, but that could just be my age.........
How ya doin', our Scottish cousin??? Did you take your son Trick or Treating?
Mary
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THE ONES I HAVE OPEN ALL THE WAY ROUND,ALMOST 360 DEGREES. I HAVE MANY KILTS AND IVE TRIED MANY DEVICES..........THESE ARE WHAT IVE SETTLED ON, THEYRE EXCELLENT.
HOW AM I? VERY BUSY! NEARING EXHAUSTION. I SPENT 6 WEEKS IN THE FAUKLANDS IN THE 80s LIVING IN A HOLE I DUG IN THE FROZEN TUNDRA WRAPPED IN BIN BAGS EATING COLD ROUTINE AND PEEING IN BAGS....WATCHING THE ARGIES MOVE IN( BEFORE THE EVENT HIT THE NEWS)..............THAT WAS AN EASIER TIME THAN IM HAVING RIGHT NOW!!!!!1
trick or treat? Alex has caught the bug.but its not as big over here as on your side of the pond,keep smiling that pretty smile(it is mary im talking to i hope!)
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Well my waist is 34" my butt is round (how the hell did i get an ass when neither of my parents have one) length: knee length
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MacT, I have those hangers and I hang my jeans from the bottom of the legs, hook over the clothes line, let them dry and the weight of the fabric pulls the jeans down so it gives them a crease (I hate to iron). ;D I've had them for years and love them.
Mary, mine open up like MacT's, try Wal-Mart, I think that's where I bought mine years and years ago.
Barbara
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Well my waist is 34" my butt is round (how the hell did i get an ass when neither of my parents have one) length: knee length
Uhhhh...knee length doesn't work, Graham. Kneel down and measure from your belly button STRAIGHT down to the floor. Someone else will have to do this - you CANNOT make this measurement for yourself. Then Stand and make the same measurement - they should be identical to the TOP of the knee. Many people wear their kilts too long, but this measurement should work.
Mary
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Hey MacTavish,
Thanks for the info on the cedar hangers! I found them at a local hardware store just up the road.
Donna
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Mary,
Do you remember that I had to measure my son TWICE for his kilt...I told him to get on his knees and have his wife measure the distance from his belly button to the floor.
What he did, the first time, was to get on his HANDS & KNEES and measure the distance from the floor up to his belly!!! (It's the English part of that child that makes it difficult for him to follow simple directions).
Donna
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Donna - were you ever abducted by aliens or anything???? ENGLISH doesn't seem to quite explain it! ;D
Has David gotten his kilt yet or are you still admiring it?
Mary
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I've still got the Kilt. It's supposed to be a Christmas gift if I can wait that long. Any word on the Sporran?
Donna
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Picked it up - need to find a proper button for the front and it will be on it's way!
:)
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From my belly button to the floor is 25"
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My son just came by to pick up his Thompson dress blue kilt (I didnt have the heart to make him wait for Christmas) and he couldnt wait to try it on! He looks
so handsome in it! David sends special thanks to Mary & Tom Thompson for their
part in his getting the kilt.
Donna
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Great!! Pictures????
Ya'll DID cut the threads holding the pleats in place, right???? I actually saw someone wear an (obviously) brand new kilt to a dinner and the threads were still in it! Not much 'swing' when it's tied together!!! :-[
Mary
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David found a shop near his place that sells Scottish clothing so he went directly there to see if they had a shirt. He wants to have the "full effect" before taking photos.
But, I'll tell you, I could have taken some good ones today! I gave him Booner's advice on being mindful of how he sits or gets into and out of his truck, etc. but I guess it was just a natural action for him to bend at the waist to tie up his shoes!
Donna
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;D Oh my! ;D Can't wait to see pictures, Donna.
Barbara
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I gave him Booner's advice on being mindful of how he sits or gets into and out of his truck, etc. but I guess it was just a natural action for him to bend at the waist to tie up his shoes!
Oh My is right! :o Good thing it was his mom monitoring the 'kilting.' :-[
Barbara -- I could hear you laughing all the way to my house! And Donna, you have to get a grip....I think I hear you too! :) I
Mary
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Thanks Mary, I got the Sporran and belt in today's mail.
Photos to follow soon, I hope.
Donna
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Great - glad to know it got there safely.
There are two links from the Clan Thompson Society site that David might want to review:
http://clanthompson.org/kilt.html
I'm going to send an additional reference via email when I find it! :)
Mary
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Donna,
Your son will soon learn that the kilt is heavy enough so you don't have to worry about it in a wind, but dam, they're drafty!
Booner