Measuring a youngin... room to grow?

[NPG]

I will be order a kilt for my son to be (fiancée's son) to wear in the wedding. He's 12 and I think he's got a ways to grow (he's around 5'7 and wears size 12 US shoes). When measuring him for his kilt is there a way to plan for some growing room? I'd love for this to be a kilt he can wear for the rest of his life.

Thanks in advance for any advice

[jetstar63]

You can start by looking for hilts with a Velcro attachment, and specify more hem.

[The Wizard of BC]

At 12 years old and size 12 shoes this young man will probably grow to be 6 foot tall or more so a hem that can be let down later is a good idea. Avoid synthetic fabrics as it will be very obvious where the hem was when you let it down.

You can build in growth pleats which can be let out as his girth increases.

I would not go for velcro as you say that you want this to be his adult kilt eventually. I would use normal straps and buckles but make the kilt large to begin with. An apron which overlaps by two or three inches is not a problem in a young kid and is almost un-noticable. Especially if the kilt is pleated to the stripe. As he grows you can simply move the straps and buckles.

[NPG]

At 12 years old and size 12 shoes this young man will probably grow to be 6 foot tall or more so a hem that can be let down later is a good idea. Avoid synthetic fabrics as it will be very obvious where the hem was when you let it down.

You can build in growth pleats which can be let out as his girth increases.

I would not go for velcro as you say that you want this to be his adult kilt eventually. I would use normal straps and buckles but make the kilt large to begin with. An apron which overlaps by two or three inches is not a problem in a young kid and is almost un-noticable. Especially if the kilt is pleated to the stripe. As he grows you can simply move the straps and buckles.

Thank you Wizard of BC for this advice. It is very much appreciated.

If I convey these ideas to out kilt maker in Scotland do you think would they be able to oblige us? Since we are having this same shop weave the custom tartan I thought I would have them make the kilts for us too. I suppose I can always hold off on having his kilt made by them and just use the yardage to make his kilt or have it made by someone who could build in these extras.

[The Wizard of BC]

NPG,

The best answer to your question is contact the person who will actually be making your son's kilt. Good communication back and forth is the whole secret to jobs like this.

[Barb T]

So, I'm going to offer a different view. Why not have a kilt made that fits well and looks good on him at the moment? If you were to have a kilt made with a significant hem, his kilt is either going to look like it's stitched down too far now or stitched down not far enough once you let the hem down. You don't want him to have a "flippy" kilt when he gets taller, but you also don't want him to have a kilt where the fell is stitched way down below his butt for the wedding. So, why not have a kilt made to fit him now sell it when he outgrows it, and get him a new one when he's bigger??

If it were me, I would make the kilt a few inches bigger at the waist and hips than his current measurements, but make the length close to right. If he gets bigger around, move the buckles and straps. As he gets a little taller, he can wear the kilt a little lower, and no one will notice. And remember, if someone grows 8" in height, the KILT LENGTH doesn't increase by that much. And truly, boys get a LOT of leggy length early and more torso length later. So, he could go for a couple years (maybe more than that) before really needing a longer kilt.

At that point, you could sell the kilt (a kilt that has not been altered has more value than one that has), and have a new one made. That's my advice. If you want him to wear the kilt when he's 20, 30, or 40, you don't want one that fit him when he was 12 and has been cobbled to fit him as an adult.

But, that's just my take.