Student Testimonials
Dearest Reader,
It is a rare occasion when I put pen to paper, rarer still that I sanction the dissemination of my opinions on any form of Social Media, but in this case an exception is in order.
I am writing to express my love and admiration for the ladies of Scotclans and to highly recommend them to all who value Scottish heritage, arts and crafts, and savvy business plans.
My wife and I attended the two week beginner course in kiltmakery in July 2023. According to my wife it was the most fun she's ever had with a group of people for ten days, and I would concur.
Where to start? How about right out of the gate when you soon realize that these gals love what they do, have been doing it for years, and that it all takes place in the context of a vast knowledge of proper Scottish history and a whole lot of fun.
The skills are taught in such a way as to instill confidence in the students one step at a time without sacrificing an overarching culture of unabashed quality. It was first and foremost, FUN!
Time flew as they say, but a few months later back home my enthusiasm remains unbridled.
The support we have received and continue to receive from the Ladies of Scotclans has been amazing and the group continues to support each other as well across oceans and continents. As we came to this course after three years of pandemic, making a bunch of new friends was definitely not top of the priority list, but we found ourselves blessed by the good fortune of sitting with a great group. If there were tears it was from laughing too hard. When unsure of which direction to take support could be found not only from Nikki, Amanda and Siobhan but the table next as well. A truly shared experience and one I will always cherish.
I could go on and on recommending any aspect of this operation but instead I will say we are DEFINITELY heading back in '24 for the advanced course!
Yours Sincerely in the name of Perseverance,
Scott Davidson
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Canada
P.S. Special mention to Roger out back for taking the time to sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of heraldry. Another example of how these guys love and live history every day. The Real Deal.
Hi
It’s with great pleasure I am writing this ode to the gang at Scotclans.
I have just completed the course, I am humbled by the skills of Nikki, Siobhan & Amanda, I have been totally infected with the art of kilt making ( I cried when my kilt was pressed). It is so therapeutic to stitch by hand, and so relaxing.
The history of tartan and kilts and the anecdotes popped in. I had so much fun with the course and with the lovely group of people I met and forged new friendships with. The quality of teaching was phenomenal, but done in a functioning workplace, with down to earth lovely teachers. It has empowered me take a new path to kilt making. Fired me up to new pastures from the enthusiastic teachers we had. I wish I had done it years ago. I am proud to be called a Kiltie.
The support you receive after the course from the kilting community & from Scotclans is really amazing. I am so proud of the kilt I have made for my son. I am on my second with 4 more now in the pipeline. Thank you so much for the encouragement and renewed purpose you have given me.
Class of September 2023.
Dawn McDonald
Dear Reader
To understand my perspective please know I have been wearing kilts since I was a young boy (wee lad). I wore my first kilt during a visit to Scotland in 1970. 50+ years later, I am still wearing kilts. I am a person who likes working with my hands to create things. I make clothes, costumes, quilts, art, canoes, and kayaks - a bit of an eclectic mix, but all very self satisfying which allows me to exercise my creative problem solving skills.
In trying to find the "perfect kilt" I came across a 30 minute YouTube video from The Kiltmakery which gave an introduction to learning traditional kilt making. The video planted a seed which grew into my quest to learn how to make my own "perfect" kilt(s). At that time I had know idea I would come to cherish my experience at Scotclans with Nikki, Siobhan, and Amanda, gaining the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence which enabled me to make my first traditional bespoke kilt.
I performed my due diligence and found several kilt making courses in Edinburgh. While each course offered something unique, I kept revisiting the Scotclans social media and became attracted to their down to earth style and mission to perpetuate the craft of traditional kilt making. So, I signed up and enrolled in the Scotclans two-week introductory course in traditional kilt making, and the rest is history.
Little did I know I had just made an amazing choice. Nikki, Siobhan, and Amanda together have decades of experience in the kilt industry and making traditional bespoke kilts. They don't just teach you how to make a "traditional kilt", they created a warm and welcoming learning environment and worked with each person in the class individually at their own pace to learn the process of kilt making, learn new skills and techniques, help hone existing skills, raise your self-confidence which enables each student to learn how to and successfully make their own kilts, as well as launch you on the path to becoming a traditional kilt maker.
The only downside to the course is it ended and I had to return home. Even though I am now 3,200 miles away from their Leith Edinburgh workshop I left knowing Nikki, Siobhan, Amanda, the rest of Scotclans, and the growing Scotclans kiltmakers community are a key-stroke or FaceTime call away if I have any questions, seek advice, need guidance, and/or wish to share my kilt making successes.
I highly recommend the Scotclans/The Kiltmakery two week course to anyone who is serious about learning the craft of traditional kilt making and seeks to venture down the path of becoming a traditional kilt maker.
Thank you Nikki, Siobhan, Amanda, and the Scotclans family.
Sincerely,
Jim Siesfeld
New York, NY USA
Hi Scotclans! I miss you!
When I had the opportunity to visit Scotland (a bucket list for me), I started looking at what I was going to do while in the country. Being a regular kilt-wearer (serial kilter?), I began looking at all of the kilt shops I could visit and stumbled upon The Kiltmakery, and found they offered a two week class in the same time frame I was going to be in the country. I didn't know what to expect at first with the class, but immediately settled in with my new friends whom I adore. Nikki, Amanda and Siobhan all offered expert guidance in the course which allowed me to leave with a finished kilt that I love very much. I have now made five kilts using the skills taught in Leith in the springtime of 2023, and am working on creating my own business in highlandwear here in the states.
The ladies and gentlemen at Scotclans are the real deal who have a great passion for Scottish heritage and culture and they are helping to keep the art of kiltmaking alive in Scotland as well as the Scottish diaspora. I was truly pleased to have been able to work with them and am hoping to be able to go back soon for the advanced course.
If you are hoping to learn something in a time-honored and meticulous manner, look no further. Nikki, Amanda and Siobhan will steer you in the right direction.
Carson Wilson
Guymon, Oklahoma, USA
Hello,
I’m not the type of person who writes reviews or gives feedback on things so bear with me… At the start of 2023 I wasn’t in the best place in life, I wasn’t working and felt like I got up everyday and watched the world pass me by. For context, in November 2020 I had a near fatal horse riding accident resulting in a severe brain injury which obviously turned my world upside down. I went from being independent and working every day to relearning how to walk and talk and adjusting to the new me.
Around March 2023, I somehow landed on the Kiltmakery’s website and saw the information about their kilt making course and it piqued my interest. I have worn kilts all my life from being a member of a pipe band and now have a daughter who is a little Highland dancer. I thought about it for a few days before discussing it with my husband who agreed with me that I had nothing to lose by enquiring into it, the only thing that was holding me back was my lack of confidence. However, I went and spoke to Amanda and have to say that from the minute I walked into Scotclans, I felt welcome and that for the first time in a very long time, my brain injury didn’t matter was confident by the end of the chat that they would support me through the course. Next thing I knew, I was booked on the April course and we were doing this :) It was a massive step for me, even just walking into somewhere that I didn’t know people but as soon as I sat down, I felt welcome and relaxed.
Nikki is the most amazing teacher. She is so knowledgable and her passion for the craft shines through right from the outset. She teaches the course with enthusiasm, patience and humour and took the time with me to explain things that sometimes I just didn’t grasp right away. I came to this course in a bit of a rough place (and this is going to sound really cheesy) but it has literally changed my life. I have made multiple kilts since being on the course and I feel like my confidence is growing with every one. I now feel like I have a future as a kilt maker that I can work towards, which most importantly works around my injury. I have a sewing room set up in my house and have definitely caught the kilt making bug, I absolutely love it.
I am lucky enough to live within 30 minutes of the Kiltmakery so get to visit frequently and I love going in for a blether with the girls. One of the biggest things that I like about the Kiltmakery is that this isn’t somewhere that you do the course and are the left to get on with it afterwards, there is a fantastic community that you are part of and always have somebody to turn to with a question. Anyway, the point of my feedback is that if you are somebody like myself who has additional needs and are interested in learning this beautiful, traditional craft, don’t be scared to reach out to the Kiltmakery. They are extremely understanding and inclusive and will help you to the best of their abilities. Thank you Nikki, Amanda and Siobhan for the friendship and continued support. Claire x
I’m not the type of person who writes reviews or gives feedback on things so bear with me… At the start of 2023 I wasn’t in the best place in life, I wasn’t working and felt like I got up everyday and watched the world pass me by. For context, in November 2020 I had a near fatal horse riding accident resulting in a severe brain injury which obviously turned my world upside down. I went from being independent and working every day to relearning how to walk and talk and adjusting to the new me.
Around March 2023, I somehow landed on the Kiltmakery’s website and saw the information about their kilt making course and it piqued my interest. I have worn kilts all my life from being a member of a pipe band and now have a daughter who is a little Highland dancer. I thought about it for a few days before discussing it with my husband who agreed with me that I had nothing to lose by enquiring into it, the only thing that was holding me back was my lack of confidence. However, I went and spoke to Amanda and have to say that from the minute I walked into Scotclans, I felt welcome and that for the first time in a very long time, my brain injury didn’t matter was confident by the end of the chat that they would support me through the course. Next thing I knew, I was booked on the April course and we were doing this :) It was a massive step for me, even just walking into somewhere that I didn’t know people but as soon as I sat down, I felt welcome and relaxed.
Nikki is the most amazing teacher. She is so knowledgable and her passion for the craft shines through right from the outset. She teaches the course with enthusiasm, patience and humour and took the time with me to explain things that sometimes I just didn’t grasp right away. I came to this course in a bit of a rough place (and this is going to sound really cheesy) but it has literally changed my life. I have made multiple kilts since being on the course and I feel like my confidence is growing with every one. I now feel like I have a future as a kilt maker that I can work towards, which most importantly works around my injury. I have a sewing room set up in my house and have definitely caught the kilt making bug, I absolutely love it.
I am lucky enough to live within 30 minutes of the Kiltmakery so get to visit frequently and I love going in for a blether with the girls. One of the biggest things that I like about the Kiltmakery is that this isn’t somewhere that you do the course and are the left to get on with it afterwards, there is a fantastic community that you are part of and always have somebody to turn to with a question. Anyway, the point of my feedback is that if you are somebody like myself who has additional needs and are interested in learning this beautiful, traditional craft, don’t be scared to reach out to the Kiltmakery. They are extremely understanding and inclusive and will help you to the best of their abilities. Thank you Nikki, Amanda and Siobhan for the friendship and continued support. Claire x
