Hi, My name is Mary Tierney, you may have seen me at any number of highland games.

I have been making kilts since Loon Mountain highland games 1998, my very first highland games. With guidance from Clan Campbell at the Loon mountain games I was able to find an article that Ann Stewart had written 8 years previously in Threads magazine on how to make a kilt.  Her current phone number was in the article. 

After contacting Ann, and asking 8 million questions she told me to come show her my work at the Goshen Highland games (no longer held).  When she saw my sewing skills she asked if I wanted to spend a weekend learning to make kilts.  That was when I started as an apprentice with Ann Stewart.  Ann herself learned as a 16 year old apprentice in Elgin Scotland.  The learning took place over the course of a year.  The first weekend at Ann’s I learned to sew pleats.  I sewed pleats for a long time.  Then, another weekend,  I learned to sew the insides.  At this point Ann would send me a previously set up kilt and I would have to finish it.  Another weekend found me learning to set up kilts.  Ann then started sending me just the material and the measurements and I would make the whole kilt on my own.  I did this for many years.

It was easier than starting my own business since I had 4 children ages 7-12 and a LOT of activities.  It’s a great thing to bring along with you to basketball, hockey, soccer and baseball games. Very portable.  With 4 children we spent a lot of time at sporting events.  Eventually I had to go out on my own and I formed Tiltin’ Kilts.  Over the years with Ann I also learned to make vests, military jackets, argyle jackets, prince charlie jackets, pipers plaids, drummers plaids, argyle hose, military jackets, sashes, ladies kilt skirts and fly plaids and flashes.   I will always remember Ann who was a great teacher and mentor and I hope to be able to pass on these skills to anyone that is willing to learn.