where to wear a kilt?

[Kitty]

first post of many i'm sure...

I'm making a kilt for my boyfriend, but I have a question before I start cutting (and really before I get final measurements).

All the pics of people wearing kilts have them wear it high on the waist, like above the navel. But my boyfriend has a bit of a belly and normally wears his pants below it. So when I was measuring, measuring & measuring, there is quite a difference between back-side-and front for the length.

I want the kilt to come to middle of the knees as that seems what most instructions say, but I'm afraid it'll be much lower if I use the front measurement. But he's losing weight (20lbs so far) and I'm hoping to take it in when he's at his happy weight, but I dont want it to be a mini-kilt when he can wear it higher on the waist.

So long story short:
What is the best way to measure the length and is it ok for him to wear the kilt below his belly like he does his pants?

Thanks
Kitty

[cavscout]

Welcome Kitty.

You'll get a lot of great information from the members here and the Professional Kilt Makers as well so I won't even try and speak inteligently on how to make a kilt.

Whether this will be a traditional kilt or a contemporary kilt will make a difference in what would work. If you could give us more information on the style your going for. (Tartan or solid color) (Type of Material, Cotton twill or cotton flannel...) As much information as you can share will help you get more thorough answers.

Utilikilt for example makes a kilt with what they call the gut-cut where it is shorter in the front than in the back so it can be worn under the belly or to be pushed down.

[davedove]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't like the looks of a kilt (or pants for that matter) worn below a large belly. It just looks bad to me. A high waisted kilt will help disguise the large belly. It won't hide it, but it won't look as bad.

I say measure the kilt at the waist, not under the belly.

But again, that's just me (and I have a large belly).

[Kitty]

It's a solid color, very dark green and made of a wool/poly blend I think, and it's a semi-heavier material.

I haven't quite decided on traditional or casual. I'm still doing lots of research and so I guess I haven't tracked down where the differences lie. But from my understanding casual is a bit easier to make and I think I wanna lean towards easier as he wants it for the Ren Fest.

I think i'd like to add belt straps to tie it together though. Just decided today cuz i was trying to figure out how i was gonna fasten it, so eventually I'll be having questions on how to do that.

[mkmound]

Kitty,

Welcome to the group!!

For your research, you can certainly access the web sites of the sponsors of this site for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary styles.

If you haven't spotted the threads yet which mention "The Art of Kiltmaking" by Barbara Tewksbury and Elsie Stuehmeyer, (Barb is a member of this forum) it is an excellent resource which you can order. You can use the forum's search function to locate lots of threads which discuss various aspects of making both traditional and contemporary styles.

Happy stitching!! You have a very fortunate boyfriend!!

[bubba]

It will look much nicer worn high rather than under the belly. Wearing it high will help hide the pot belly and smooth the body line giving a bit trimmer look.

[starbkjrus]

Kitty,

Welcome to the group!!

For your research, you can certainly access the web sites of the sponsors of this site for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary styles.

If you haven't spotted the threads yet which mention "The Art of Kiltmaking" by Barbara Tewksbury and Elsie Stuehmeyer, (Barb is a member of this forum) it is an excellent resource which you can order. You can use the forum's search function to locate lots of threads which discuss various aspects of making both traditional and contemporary styles.

Happy stitching!! You have a very fortunate boyfriend!!

You can order Barb's book from Celtic Dragon Press .

Good luck with your kiltmaking.

[Pleater]

I'd say go higher rather than lower - with the kilt being knee length the proportions can look really wrong if it is too short on the body.

It might feel strange at first but it is a whole different garment.

If it is not for formal wear you could just pleat the material onto a waistband without doing any sewing down, then it would not be so difficult to decrease the size.

I am losing weight and have made and remade kilts for myself. I have made them various lengths, but always with the belt resting above the natural waist.

I put on belt loops but not buckles for fastening as I find my waist varies quite a lot, not only throughout the day but over a week - I think the fat is moving around. I thread the belt from the left edge of the upper apron around anticlockwise. I draw the under apron into place, then put the end of the belt through a beltloop on the edge of the upper apron and draw it into place, then fasten the belt.

When the under apron starts to slide down and I can't tighten the belt without the beltloop on the over apron colliding with the one at the edge of the pleats, I know I have to remake the kilt again.

[Kitty]

i didn't really wanna start a new thread cuz it's pretty much the same topic, but i just ran into a little problem

so apparently my boyfriend has no *** (still think it's nice though ;)

cuz i offically took his measurements last night and his "waist" is an inch more than his hips cuz of his belly. now this may not be a problem, but i'm just wondering about the darts that every instruction i've ever seen has and what i do about those (leave them out? - only thing i can think of).

i'm gonna try to draw up the plan/pattern today of what i'm gonna do and now that i have people i can ask, i'm totally taking advantage of it rather than just see what i'll do when i get to that step.

[cavscout]

I agree with Dave about wearing it on the belly. If this were going to be a knock around pajama kilt it might be fine to go under the belly. But since this will be worn out in public, it will look better on the belly and allow for more flexibility when you need to alter it due to weight fluxuation.

In my understanding, a casual kilt is one that basically is worn on the hips (wear your jeans might ride) so it will be worn just below the navel typically. A more taditional kilt will actually extend slightly above the navel or up to the rib cage.

Unless you want to have to buy more material later after he's lost his eight, I'd try to keep the material in original condition as you can to make alterations easier down the road. You can always cut the cloth down later.

The solid color will be a lot easier for you to pleat as you need to so that's a great choice.