I had an opportunity to attend a week long kilt making class. This was for the traditional hand-sew kilts. This was my first attempt at making a kilt. There were a few mistakes in it but overall it turned out ok. The main problem I had was getting the width of the pleats correct. They taper from the hip up to waist. I got the hip width correct but by the time I sewed up to the top of the kilt I let the narrower measurement at the waist get away from me. Ended up with little taper. So over all the waist was too big. I have the straps pulled in all the way. Have to wear a belt with this one. The material I used on this one is 13-oz wool in the Earl of St. Andrews tartan. I have a full 8-yards in this thing. The sett size was 5-1/4" so I doubled that when I folded the pleats. Skipping a set to get deeper pleats. This is pleated to the Sett. I have other tartan material to make more kilts. So I will try to learn from the mistakes in this one to improve the next one I make. 

 

 

 
 

Happy 4th of July

The town I live in holds a big festival on the 4th of July for Independence day. While it was in the mid 90's today the heat did not stop a lot of people from attending the event. The parade through town runs about 2-hours in the morning. The rest of the afternoon street vendors are setup on main street and bands play for entertainment. Later tonight will be the fireworks. I have attended in my American Heritage tartan kilt for the past three years. This is the first year I have spotted someone else in a kilt. A young man wearing a black Utilikilt. I have run across others that said they had a kilt but I guess none were brave enough to wear it. One young girl as me if I was hot. Well, I guess if I had been in a traditional wool kilt that may have been the case but I had on a lighter weight PV kilt from USAKilts. In the winter they will be asking if I am cold. You can't win. For those of you in the USA have a safe Independence Day.

Mini Cooper Coupe

My main vehicle is a 2003 GMC Safari van. It will soon be 10 years old. Has 138,000 miles on it. I like it as I can carry a full sheet of plywood, 8-foot racks, and other big stuff. It drinks a lot of gas and is rather big for just driving back and forth to work. I decided to keep the van but get something smaller and easier on gas. Since I will still have the van I don't need a lot of people or cargo capacity. That being the case time for something fun. So I now own a 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe. The coupe is their 2-seater that went on sale back in October. There are not many of them on the road as production is somewhat limited it appears. Of course the challenge is getting in and out of this car gracefully. That was never a problem with the van.

Latest Kilt Pin

I like to have a kilt pin on each one of my tartan kilts. Rather than buy a real kilt pin I look for things I can turn into a kilt pin. Something out of the ordinary. In an earlier post I have a picture of one I made out of a radio tube. For this one I used a Cadillac emblem that was on a necklace. Got the necklace off of Ebay. The kilt in the picture is a 13-oz wool traditional kilt from USAKIlts in the Pennsylvania tartan. 

 

 

First Kilt for 2012

Despite wind gusts to 40 MPH I ran out for lunch. I guess this is the first kilt out the door for 2012. Denim kilt from Union Kilts. Happy kilting in 2012 everyone.

Mike

Another Year in a Kilt Blog

LOOKS LIKE THE LINK IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

 

Came across another "wearing the kilt for a year" blog. He has a Facebook link as well as a web site. I have to disagree with his one statement on his Facebook wall post. He stated "‎7 days left of leg freedom before I make them wear a.kilt for 366. Eek." No, Darren, it is 7 days UNTIL you get leg freedom.

http://www.facebook.com/inhiskilt

http://inhiskilt.com/

Kilt On!
Mike

Tonight's Dinner Kilt

Went to dinner tonight at a local pub. I get the same young lady every time I go there. Today management put her on the other side so I was not at one of her tables. I got one of the other girls as my server. Much to my surprise Ashley came over to talk to me even thought I was not at her table. Power of the kilt dudes!

I did have on a Sporran when I went out. Took it off and forgot to put it back on for the picture! Nightstalker leather Sporran from Stillwater Kilts.

I wanted to wear red kilt socks but the shades of red I have won't work with the shade of red in this turtle neck shirt. One is too bright and the other is more of a maroon. That is one thing that bugs me. I have a hard time matching colors. You don't have many colors to choose from in kilt socks. I like the Lewis style kilt socks but they only have a few colors. I guess I should try to find another red turtle neck shirt that is closer to the shade of the red socks I have.

Prior to putting on this kilt (USAKIlt Semi-Traditional in American Heritage tartan) I had on the denim Union Kilt in the previous picture (December 16th post), dark blue shirt.

Kilt On!