Fraying Ends On Your Great Kilt? Is this a real problem? Was it a problem for the Highlanders?

Do the ends of your great kilt (breacan, belted plaid, filleadh mòr) fray leaving loose threads trailing about?
If it is a real tartan wool kilt, the answer is probably yes. But is this actually a problem? Was a fraying kilt a problem for the old time Highlanders who wore the great kilt full time? If so, how would they deal with it?
In brief, fraying threads on a kilt is simply a fact of life. When some threads fray away from the edge of a kilt, the result is a fringe. This fringe usually naturally only goes to maybe half an inch deep max.
It's always been this way, and thus the fringed edge of a modern kilt - on the right and side of the front apron - is actually sort of an homage to the kilts of the old days. What was then a "normal thing" is now decoration.
That said, the modern kilt wearer may not want a fringe for some reason. Rocky offers his advice. Also an FYI - for great kilts we ourselves sell, you can opt to have the edges hemmed for a small fee. We don't recommend this if you intend to use your great kilt for historical reenactments. However, if you are wearing it for Ren Fair or casually with modern clothing, maybe it's something to consider.
SHAMELESS PLUG: You can see our great kilt offerings here:
www.usakilts.com/kilts-and-pa...
Our tartans in this video:
Tartans of the day:
Rocky: Stewart Old Wilsons of Bannockburn colours
Erik: Cameron Erracht Muted
Mac: Red Hackle
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Located in Spring City PA, USA Kilts is a team of American kilt makers who have been making men’s kilts in authentic clan tartans since 2003.
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[@porygon110]

Great kilts might be selling like mad due to the youtuber Fandabi Dozi. A proper great kilt was a childhood dream of mine but one I let die out. Seeing him camping and living in historical kit rekindled that flame and caused me to buy some great kilts from you in the past year. If your not already familiar with his channel I would highly recommend checking him out. Thank you for all of your work building wonderful kilts and sharing your wealth of knowledge!

[@miked4152]

I agree 😁👍

[@themanhimself1229]

Seconding this, dude's a chad.

[@charlesstanford1310]

Speaking of odor: the guy even uses his plaid to smoke meat.

[@whiskeyvictor5703]

His videos are ace. Do yourself a favour and watch a few.

[@plainsimple442]

Tom also inspired me to purchase and wear 2 Plaids of different tartans!

[@woltews]

Fandabi Dozi has made sum great points about the utility of a great kilt

[@miked4152]

Fandabi dozi rocks. I've been subbed to his channel for a while now. Great guy 😁👍

[@qw3rty829]

Fandabi Dozi is the reason I just bought a great kilt 5 minutes ago!

[@Cubestone]

Since I will use mine to wear, and other purposes like a blanket or light bed roll I went with hemmed. Being kind of frugal and wanting it to last a long time I figured it was a good idea. If the sewing machine had been invented back in the old highland days you can bet there would have been a lot more hemming.

[@trickiewoowoo]

I had my Breacan an Fèileadh made with a frilled edge. This was likely not the way the garment was made in the traditionally authentic sense however as being worn in the outdoors a frilled edge would have been prone to fraying even more. The traditional style incorporates the selvedge, the strongest part of the fabric, which is much less likely to fray as a result of normal use. I wear my plaid primarily for ceremonial occasions where there is little possibility of the fringed edge causing problems, and I really like the look.

[@user-gx6rr2gx6u]

The long edge of the kilt I just purchased from another company has loose threads on the long edge. They create large and small loops, up to about 6 inches all along the edge. When I questioned this they said it was intentionally done as a unique design but I see it as unfinished and potentially getting things caught in them and pulling threads out. I thought of cutting them back to the edge, but want to ensure I do the correct thing with them

[@WilliamH490]

Like fringe on western leather coats worn in the west by cowboys or trappers the pieces that are fraying can be used to bind up an item like string was used to bind parcels for mailing in the 1800-early 1900s.

[@ericlahey7859]

I love kilts! I'm still relatively new to kilts even though I've been wrapping a blanket like a kilt since I was a child, even belting it. I have always let my old cotton great kilt fray. but I am excited to get my real wool great kilt from USA Kilts its gonna be wicked. and couldn't be more excited!!! keep on being awesome my guys eh cheers! And I hope everyone in the chat bellow has a great day eh!!!

[@XiphosGaming]

It's been a while since I wore a Kilt, bought one a few weeks ago and today went into Glasgow (Scotland) with it on today and I don't think I'm going back now :D

[@johndanielharold3633]

Make it so!

[@johnbyington3458]

I had my great kilt hemmed in about an inch, but did not fray it on purpose afterward. It frayed naturally afterward

[@JohnMcKLV]

Never thought I'd hear a 90's weezer anthem on this channel! :D

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

You never know what you'll get with us. 🤣🤣

[@douglasfrank9323]

I let mine fray to create a fringe.

[@cedainty]

Using a "pinking shear" will give you an edge that is less likely to ravel, fray.

[@DavidvanLochem]

Can you give a word about kilt liners ?

[@Sparkyminor]

What tartan is Eric wearing in this video?

[@matthewdenty7760]

Do you cut or tear your tartan?

[@nolangillentine773]

Hey guys, totally off topic but I've been thinking a lot about wearing my kilt outside in the weather and being a very light skinned man (very Scottish heritage) I have been wondering if either of you have any tips to avoid getting sun burn on the small amount of exposed area between my hose and kilt. Is this even a problem? Before you answer sun screen, that is obvious, but let me say that I am a bit of a naturalist and prefer to at least know how to handle such issues in an authentic way...

[@SG-jq5vt]

Fringed ends!

[@wildshadowmatic1571]

You guys are very likable got me hooked 😊 i have a question...wats the most waterproof but affordable fabric i could use for a great kilt? I live in the woods and it can get very damp and rains alot and id rather stay dry as the blanket fabric i been using absorbs water and its no good to wear or use as a blanket wen wet

[@GamerRaptorex]

Wool. Wool is actually water repellant, not waterproof but with little common sense you will remain dry. And if soaked in water it will keep at around 80% of your core temperature

[@wildshadowmatic1571]

@@GamerRaptorex is there a way to fully waterproof it? Here in the uk we got alot of rain (especially this summer) and I'm out getting/chopping fire wood etc out in it im thinking of wen winter comes and it becomes harder for me to dry also pure wool is like £50+ per metre i cant afford that yet unfortunately not wen I need like 5 metres but eventually I will get wool wen can afford it😊 i just need something that will stay dry till I can get the good stuff

[@wildshadowmatic1571]

@@GamerRaptorex im bad with explaining im sorry I hope it makes sense😊

[@LiqdPT]

@@wildshadowmatic1571 you do understand that a wool kilt is a traditional Scottish garment right? Meant to hold up to the weather of the Scottish highlands.

[@wildshadowmatic1571]

@@LiqdPT yes that and looking into my heritage wat made me decide 😊 and im new to kilts and i dont know much about fabrics but like I said I cant afford pure wool just yet so for something to use until I can afford it wat fabric will be cheaper but still handle my woodland lifestyle I need as waterproof and durable as possible or is there a way to help waterproof any bit of cheap fabric?

[@wickedone6476]

Fringed or hemmed either one

[@Bpowers313]

Will having the ends hemmed really cause issues in terms of wearing it and or in terms of appearance? I actually got one last night from you guys and I assumed that hemming it would make it last longer/add durability but I guess that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[@needleandmallet8252]

I hemmed my husband's and it looks fine

[@timmycook6708]

I dont think it really matters

[@OldNavajoTricks]

I bought 4m a while back and had a seamstress put a tiny hem along the top and bottom edges and a stop run along the sides, it'll fray but not excessively.

[@blakeskinner3878]

My day is made he referenced weezer

[@whiskeyvictor5703]

Will fraying be an issue with poly viscose at all?

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

Not any more of an issue than wool. 😁

[@HighlandHistorian]

Let it do what it wants. The idea of the “whole 9 yards” is that there’s plenty of fabric to make use of in a range of ways of wearing it. Losing a few strands is no problem at all. I guess if you have a smaller more pristine outfit, you’re really not wearing the genuine article.

[@inregionecaecorum]

Perhaps they frayed little by little until they became a fillabeg :)

[@timmycook6708]

I mean it's spelled fhieledh beg, and it frays on the sides not the top, so by that logic, no it would go from being 5 yards double width to 2 yards double width, it would stay just as wide, but once it frays so much is basically seals itself off and strings stop coming out unless you deliberately pull them out.

[@inregionecaecorum]

@@timmycook6708 For heaven's sake where is your sense of humour (it is spelled humour)

[@timmycook6708]

@@inregionecaecorum Its a gaelic word, not english. So I don't expect you to know how it's spelled but even a fhieledh beg is 5 yards or 8 yards long and only about single width.

[@zechariahpickering7222]

First

[@donaldwinterjr6979]

Fringed is the only way to go