Great Kilt Width, Fit, & Wearing the Great Kilt Over Your Head

We were asked… “On a great kilt if you get more yardage (say from a 5 to a 6 yard) does that allow for enough material to do the "hooded cloak" arrangement?”
And we were ALSO asked… “What are my options to get a great kilt that is wider than double-wide? Do I have to order more fabric and sew it along the long edge of the tartan?”
Tartans:
Rocky: Nordic Heritage
www.usakilts.c...
Erik: Tweed
www.usakilts.c...
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Started in 2003, USA Kilts is a team of kilt makers and artisans located in Spring City PA. In 2017, we made it our mission to build community and bring kilts and Celtic culture to the forefront with our YT show: Kilts & Culture.
www.USAKilts.com
Find Your Tartan!: www.usakilts.c...
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E-mail: [e-mail]

[@Botanizilla2112]

I wear great kilts more often than not (I wear kilts nearly every day). I wear them to work (I'm a professor) regularly and have even been asked to host a tutorial on how to wear them by my students. I ordered my first one, frankly, because of the cost. I've been wearing utility kilts for years now but have always wanted to wear a "proper" plaid since I am third generation Scots on my Mom's side (Buist from Dundee). Since purchasing a plaid is cheaper than purchasing a modern kilt I went with that option. Now though, I have to admit that I prefer the great kilt for its utility and because I've always had an appreciation for doing things "old school". I particularly appreciate the fact that I am able to raise awareness of Celtic culture in my community and the folks I run into regularly compliment me on my plaid.

[@TheSVgregor]

My next kilt will be a great kilt. Definitely to be used for outdoor hikes and similar events and perhaps as I save money work it into a semi formal set up.

[@DavidMartin-ox6xz]

I really like that vest Eric has on.

[@Bryanfox-zl5dh]

I wear the great kilt almost exclusively, I do own a couple modern kilts however. The thing I absolutely love about the GKilt is, I have found some really cool tartan patterns in fabric stores and on EBay that are not registered tartans, all you have to do is buy 5 yards and you have a kilt. What stands out most to me when I'm wearing them is they all look great but the two I have that are actually wool absolutely look amazing. Nothing else drapes, hangs and moves like wool. I do recommend having one at around 45 inches for those hot days when you definitely don't need as much fabric, and aren't likely to need a cloak.

[@harrisonkone]

Do I wear a great kilt? Yes. Where did I buy it? From you guys. Is it wide enough to hood? No. I’m 6’1”. Is it freaking awesome? Yes. Do I wear it as much as I can? Yes. Hunting in a great kilt is a vibe.

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

I got my earasaid (woman's great kilt, but still a great kilt) from you guys just yesterday & am currently wearing it! I wore it to work today & got plenty of compliments, even though my colleagues & students had no idea what it is. 😂 It's an 11oz from the Strathmore mill, I think. It does indeed have a really nice selvedge on it. I didn't measure the width, but I could easily believe 58-60". The 11oz fit under my winter coat nicely, so I drove to the university in it, taught in it, drove home, did lots of grading (it's finals time) in it, made dinner in it, and am now hanging out in it. It's warm & fashionable, why not? I won't wear it to clean the house in & probably won't wear it on days when I am teaching some types of labs, but I plan to wear it as a nice warm & pretty layer at family holiday parties.

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

This was wonderful to read. Thank you!

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

@@USAKiltsOfficial I wore it yesterday, too, when it was colder out & it kept me nice and warm in my chilly office & classroom. 😊 The selvedge is actually really good. I sew a lot & see icky selvedges all the time. Either they're prone to fraying or else the fabric is so obviously different, a different texture, etc. This is the first time I've really seen one where it's not so obvious, but also I can tell it won't fray. 👍

[@EmeraldVideosNL]

Good review! I'm thinking of buying an Earisaid to wear over my regular midcalf skirts. Those are cotton mostly, so I need an extra layer in order to keep wearing them in winter.

[@highwheelingdragon7136]

I have a few different great kilts, a 16 oz, a 13oz and an 11oz poly for different seasons and I wear them everywhere from my local south Texas Tractor Supply to hiking up the Mountains of Colorado where I had hours of fun picking pine needles out of the tartan but no pilling or snags. I wear them three or four times before pleating them again and just fold the aprons closed and keep it rolled up in the meantime. I sewed ribbons up one side and they can be tied in different configurations for the hood or over one or both shoulders. I regularly create a pouch to carry a load of laundry out to the wash house! The lightweight PV casual kilts are my go to in the peak of summer and around the house. Freedom!

[@kiltedpatriotatheart]

Great kilter here! Im a traditionalist, sort of, which led me to get a great kilt in my family tartan.

[@andrewvermillion7052]

I have a great kilt, purchased from USA Kilts about a year ago, and have worn it to my local Ren Faire and to a Highland Games event. It was my first kilt, but now I know that I need a five yard standard kilt in order to survive the Texas heat.

[@royandtracyboling5969]

My wife and I toured Pendleton Woolen Mills in the summer of 2022. I spent some time going through their defects hoping to find a blanket that I could turn into a Great Kilt. They had several that were the right size for me, but I did not like any of the patterns. We ended up buying a nice blanket for our trailer. ( The local RV Dealer gave us a bottle of Pendleton Whiskey as a thank you gift for buying a trailer from them, I still have a wee bit of the whiskey.)

[@coveygroff]

Yes, the great kilt is a wonderful casual version of highland wear. Not to work, but on weekends and out in the evenings I'm most likely in the great kilt

[@mattfraser9661]

I don't have a great kilt yet. But I eventually would like a modern kilt and a great kilt in every tartan of the 2 clans I descend from (Fraser and Hamilton). I picture wearing the great kilt to Renn Faires and maybe Highland games mostly. But with the right pairings of the right shirt that looks modern and feels like it pairs well with the great kilt, I might start wearing the great kilt anywhere I go.

[@JustLost1030]

A little tip, Last time i checked, they had a lot of hamilton hunting modern from Loch. leftover. Someone (me) placed a huge order with them and I guess they over bought on double width fabric. If you want a great kilt, you can pick it up at 30% off if it's still on their isle of misfit tartans.

[@1776Regularguy]

would def wear a great kilt. I used to work as a back country guide. i decided to wear i fake kilt that i had out on trail, and it was amazing. Ever since Ive wanted to get a great kilt for the comfort, utility and durability.

[@Ikamono101]

My thought on wanting a wider Great Kilt is to order single width at 15 yds and cut it in 3's. This will allow you to match the sett / pattern perfectly when splicing it together as you have 90"+ to work with. This would give you the most fredom in picking the best width for you. ie if you're 6'4" and you really want it to be 65" width you'll be able to splice it with no issues of pattern not lining up. I wear a 6 yard Great Kilt a couple times a month.

[@awakedoctor8714]

Greetings. Im german and orderd a black watch great kilt for outdoor adventure. I was going to the supermarket 2 times and for some overnight outdoors since.

[@Daspip8]

I bought my great kilt from you guys. I've gotten the folds only a few times exactly as I wanted (I'm almost positive I bought more fabric than I needed, hedging my bets with 6yds), and it has sadly sat on my dresser unworn for over a year. I've contemplated having it sewn into a fitted kilt, but the 11oz Lochcarron is light enough that I don't know if that'd be wise. I'd love to wear it again, as it's my Clan Tartan and absolutely beautiful.

[@kiltedpatriotatheart]

You make a good point. Height of the Highlanders back then might be a factor.

[@jerrynunley9956]

I have 4 great kilts so far,and wear them anywhere i go.waiting on the shipping date for the wool Albanach plaid!!

[@JustLost1030]

I have a great kilt. I rarely wear it because getting it all pleated up is a bit of a pain and my floors are rarely clean enough for me to want to put it on the ground. But I like the idea of wearing it to renfairs where it can be a bit more historical and fit into a more mideval character.

[@redscale82]

I got my great kilt from a local fabric store. It is 59 inches wide and it is not enough to cover my head. Needs at least another 5-6 inches. Being tall sometimes has its backside.

[@whiskeyvictor5703]

Struggling to find wide enough bolts of tartan fabric, plus the right tartan in PV are the two biggest challenges of wanting to wear a great kilt. For the extra-tall gents who want to go the great kilt route would be to wear the filamore bound at the shoulder in the traditional manner and another separate length of the same tartan as a kind of "day plaid" to wrap around the chest, with plenty to spare for a hood. That may work.

[@northwindhomestead907]

I wear a great kilt every day I'm not in my work uniform (so not often enough). I have a single width, spliced, County Kerry from House of Edgar. I only received the GK in July so I don't have a ton of time in it. I've posted a few videos of hiking and mucking around in the woods with it. There have been two occasions where I had to wear my small kilt and I felt like I was failing myself fit doing so. Basically, I went to a Nordic spa and didn't want to lie on the floor or do a standing pleat, and look like trash. I am starting the search for my next GK tartan. I do want a double width, however, in the heaviest weight fabric possible. The midweight County Kerry isn't as useful as I'd hoped for in the Alaska winter.

[@VinnyBagODoughnuts]

I have 5 meters of PV Cambell (BW Ancient) and is my standard for the MD Renaissance Festival.

[@ralph3711]

For me it's more for Ren Faires and possible for shorter hikes. I personally prefer the modern kilt and optionally combined with various "day plaids" though. I'm about 5'9" and my House of Edgar double-width great kilts are riding on top of the knee when trying to pull it over the head.

[@RandytheKiltedTrucker]

My gk's don't go over my head, but over the shoulders. Longer gk's are good for cold weather (deeper pleats).

[@Steeltoothees]

Yup I wear a great kilt grocery shopping.

[@itsapittie]

Given the way a great kilt drapes, it's likely the pattern interruption at the seam wouldn't be noticeable at all. I agree it's not ideal, but I'll bet hardly anyone would notice.

[@kiltedpatriotatheart]

I agree on this. It's so floppy, you won't tell, unless you make a poor thread color choice. Try to match the thread color to the tartan!

[@PhilipCrichton]

I would happily wear a great kilt, but the main question is, where o wear it?

[@BCSchmerker]

+USAKiltsOfficial *Thanks for the heads up on width-specific complications.* Would at least one wool mill had machinery for a 72" (1.829m) warp.

[@martyjean]

What i don't understand is what you would wear with it in a non reenactment setting. I can see wool socks and maybe leather shoes/boots, but what shirt? And are you going to wear pants under it? Seems kinda redundant.

[@DavidLloyd-x1x]

I'm Scottish, not American, so I've never seen anyone wear a great kilt in real life.

[@CullodenCowboy]

I'm a 5th generation rancher, and a great kilt does much better on my property than a tailored kilt. Just easier to not worry about messing it up, not to mention the utility benefits. Great for hunting and hiking.

[@DavidLloyd-x1x]

@@CullodenCowboy I love you guys in the US, but we don't wear kilts except for weddings and formal stuff.

[@CullodenCowboy]

@@DavidLloyd-x1x it’s kind of a new generation thing here, my grandfather is the same way as y’all, just formal or maybe festivals.

[@jackhanson1274]

There's only 2 people here in Edinburgh, myself and the lass who spins yarn at St. Giles some days (edit to clarify: two people that I am aware of, I'm not the all seeing eye, there may be others, but I have never met them). Then there's Tom Langhorne, his group of instructors and Andy the Highlander. So, that's it as far as I know, not many chances to see one sadly :(