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Irish Phillabeg, Feilidh-beag, or "Little Kilt"
There
is little evidence that the Irish ever wore kilts historically. Irish
tartans and Irish kilts are modern inventions. Nevertheless, our Irish
tartans are still a very popular choice for those of Irish descent who
want to wear a Phillabeg, so we have made them available!
The Phillabeg or Feilidh-Beag, literally
translated as "Little Kilt", is an early predecessor of today's
modern Kilt dating back to at least the late 1600's. It was simply a length
of tartan about 25" wide and about 4 yds long, loosely bunched or
pleated, and held about the waist with a belt. It was worn to about the
middle of the knee, with a few inches of tartan flopping over the belt
to help hold it on.
A 4 yard Kilt
will fit up to about a 34 inch waist, a 5 yard Kilt will fit up to about
a 44 inch waist, and a 6 yard kilt will fit up to about a 50 inch waist.
If you are larger than this please contact us for pricing on larger kilts.
Also, If your waist size is close to one of these limits, consider the
next size larger if you want deeper pleats or pleats closer together.
For more information please see our Phillabeg
page. (Box pleating uses less
tartan, so you can actually get by with a 4 yard kilt all the way up to
about a 50 inch waist if it is box pleated. See below for more details).
View
our selection of Irish Tartans
How
to measure for your Phillabeg:
1) Measure the waist size at your actual waist, where you
usually wear your pants.
2) Measure from your waist to about the middle of the knee.
Have someone help you. If you bend even a little while trying to
do it yourself, the measurement will change.
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Irish
Homespun Phillabegs
Our
Irish Phillabeg is a standard phillabeg made using Irish tartans.
Our Homespun tartan is made from a 55/45 blend of polyester and
wool. It is woven by hand on old-world looms, and looks very authentic
to what would have been woven historically. The yarn is worsted,
but not spun as tightly as modern machine-made tartan. The cloth
is also not as tightly woven. Homespun tartan will pleat by hand
easily, but will not develop a sharp edge. Small snags, pulls, holes
and other assorted blemishes are common. Because it is hand woven,
these flaws are a natural part of it's character. Homespun is approximately
a 9/10oz. fabric, but feels thicker due to it's looser weave.
Homespun
Phillabeg
KPHS 4 yds, $69 (fits up to a 34in waist*)
KPHS 5 yds, $99 (fits up to a 44in waist)
KPHS 6 yds, $109 (fits up to a 50in waist)
Pleating instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally these
kilts are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size information
to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not pleat
the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats as an additional option. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
View
our selection of In-Stock Irish Homespun Trtans.
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Irish Premium Wool Phillabegs
Our
Irish Phillabeg is a standard phillabeg made using Irish tartans.
Made from 100% pure new wool,
woven in Scotland. This is the same tartan most of you are familiar
with, used in modern, tailored, formal kilts.
Phillabeg,
Light Weight Premium Wool
KP011
4 yds, $159 (fits up to a 34in waist*)
KP011 5 yds, $199 (fits up to a 44in waist)
KP011 6 yds, $239 (fits up to a 50in waist)
Made
from light weight 10/11oz wool tartan, woven in Scotland. Makes
a great looking kilt, and the light weight is especially nice for
hot weather wear. NOTE – Most light weight Irish tartans are not
woven with a kilting selvedge, so kilts will be hemmed. (It still
looks great though. You won't know the difference).
Pleating instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally
these kilts are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size
information to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but
we do not pleat the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats as an additional option. Special-order. Please
allow 8-12 weeks for delivery.
Phillabeg, Medium Weight Premium Wool
KP013 4 yds, $179
(fits up to a 34in waist*)
KP013 5 yds, $229
(fits up to a 44in waist)
KP013
6 yds, $269
(fits up to a 50in waist)
Made
from medium weight 12/13oz wool tartan, woven in Scotland. If your
tartan is available, we recommend a medium weight kilt. Medium weight
tartan will hang better and take a crisper pleat than light weight
tartan, while still being comfortable to wear. Pleating instructions
are included with each kilt. Traditionally these kilts are pleated
each time you wear them. We ask for size information to be sure
that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not pleat the kilt
for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats as an additional option. Special-order.
Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery.
Phillabeg, Medium Weight Old & Rare Premium Wool
KPOR 4 yds, $219
(fits up to a 34in waist*)
KPOR 5 yds, $279 (fits
up to a 44in waist)
KPOR
6 yds, $329 (fits
up to a 50in waist)
Made
from medium weight 12/13oz premium wool tartan from our Old &
Rare collection, woven in Scotland. If
your tartan is available, we recommend a medium weight kilt. Medium
weight tartan will hang better and take a crisper pleat than light
weight tartan, while still being comfortable to wear. Pleating
instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally these kilts
are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size information
to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not
pleat the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats as an additional option. Special-order.
Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery.
Irish Phillabeg, 16 oz Premium Wool
KP016 4 yds, $219
(fits
up to a 34in waist*)
KP016 5 yds, $279 (fits
up to a 44in waist)
KP016
6 yds, $329 (fits
up to a 50in waist)
Made
from heavy weight 16oz premium wool tartan, woven in Scotland.The
16oz might be a bit heavy to wear in hot weather, but it makes a
nice kilt. Pleating
instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally these kilts
are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size information
to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not
pleat the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats (below)
as an additional option. Special-order.
Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery.
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Cheater Pleats (Optional) ($50 extra)
This is a nice
convenience option. Your kilt will still look like you pleated it
yourself, but you can take it off and put it back on any time you
want to without redoing your pleats. (Depending on how concerned
you are about the appearance, pleating your kilt can take anywhere
from a few minutes to a half hour each time you wear it.) What we
do is pleat the kilt, then stitch a waistband inside to hold the
pleats together. (Unless you select the strap and buckle option
below, a belt will still be necessary to hold your kilt on).
Here are your
options:
Pleat to sett each pleat is positioned so that the
pattern (sett) appears to continue through the pleated portion
of the kilt.
Pleat to stripe we choose a prominent stripe in the
pattern and center the stripe down the middle of each pleat. This
is a traditional military style, and can look very nice. Some tartans
just don't look good pleated to stripe however. If you choose this
option we will let you know if it can't (or shouldn't) be done.
Box pleats another traditional military style. Every
other pleat is reversed. This creates pleats twice as wide (3 to
4 inches wide depending on the sett width of the tartan you choose)
with tartan folded under both edges of each pleat. Incidentally,
box pleating uses less tartan, so you can actually get by with a
4 yard kilt all the way up to about a 50 inch waist. NOTE
We will only use as much tartan as we need to, so if your waist
size is less than 50, and you select box pleats, your kilt will
most likely be constructed of less than 4 yards of fabric. The other
pleating methods will use approximately the whole 4, 5, or 6 yards
accordingly. If your waist size is larger than 50 inches, and you
would like box pleats, select a 5 yard kilt.
Straps &
Buckles for an additional $25, we will stitch leather
straps and buckles inside and out. The straps will be hidden out
of sight, but they allow you wear your kilt without the need for
a belt. This option is not necessary, but very convenient!
How To
Measure:
1) Measure the waist size at your actual waist, where you
usually wear your pants.
2) Measure your hip at the fullest point, usually 6-8 inches
below the waist.
3) Measure the length from your waist to about the middle
of the knee. Have someone help you. If you bend even a little while
trying to do it yourself, the measurement will change.
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