Most people now know that I'm a kiltmaker.  Well, I am going to be making a kilt for Paul.  He has narrowed it down to a handfull of tartans.  All mean something.  Help him make the decision by picking your favorite tartan.

Culloden Ancient.

This tartan was worn at the battle of Culloden, so he loves it because of that but also because it's a real tartan not a modern invention.

Jacobite.

This was worn by Jacobites as a symbol of their support.  It was illegal to be a jacobite, so this was a way to show their support without actually saying it.

Fraser Hunting weathered.

This is Paul's family tartan.

Rob Roy MacGregor.

Rob Roy was a great highland hero.  This tartan was also worn by jacobite officers.

There is also a tartan called Battle Axe.  It is a grey background with a thin white and yellow stripe.  This is similar. Simpson, I know you like Battle Axe!

Let us know which one you like the best.

A couple of people have asked what it's like being a kiltmaker.  For those of you that don't know what a kilt is, it is the national dress of Scotland.  It is a historic costume that dates back well over 1000 years.  Now it is know as the national dress, but until about 150 years ago it was highland dress.  The highlands are a very different place from the lowlands.  It's like the north and the south in the U.S.  Until everything changed, Scotland was a very seperate place.  The lowlander thought the highlander were savages, Paul likes to think they still are, and the highlanders thought the lowlanders were the same as the English. Troublemakers!  The lowlands feared the highlands and the highlands liked it that way.  After Culloden that changes.  The British government brought about changes to destroy the highland way of life, like banning the bagpipes, weapons, tartan and highland dress.  About 100 years later Scotland was looking for an identity and they brought back the kilt. (A little different from the historic one!)

My job is to make the kilt made to messure for the customer.  The tartan is cut.  In length, at the start it is about 7 1/2 metres.  The pleats at the back are then marked out.  I then lightly sow them in by hand.  Next we machine sow each pleat.  There are normally between 21 and 23 pleats in a kilt.  Then after some more hand stitching, you attach the waist band then sow in the lining.  To finish you add the 3 buckles and give it a final ironing.  From start to finish there are about 6 - 8 hours of work.  That is what I do!

There are hundreds of different tartans, from family, clan and town.  You can pay to have your own tartan designed.  The kilts are made to fit perfect and can always be ajusted with weight gain or loss.

There is nothing sexier than a man in a kilt!

To go with a kilt:-

Sporron - Leather or fur purse that hangs on a belt around the waist.

Kilt socks (Hoses) - Worn to just under the knee.

Sgian dhu - Small knife worn in the sock. (Tradition. Dating from the times of the clan wars.)

Kilt belt - Large 2 1/2 inch wide belt with large silver buckle.

Flashes - Ribbons on elastic that hold up the socks.

Ghillie brogues(Kilt shoes) - worn with long laces that are tied at the ankle.

Kilt jackets - there are many different styles depending on the occasion.(Day wear, evening, hiking, black tie, etc..)