This is awesome stuff. It's like "kilt anatomy 101". Or a Chilton's manual showing you what your engine looks like when you take it apart.

Yes, it's slightly difficult to see my kilt being gutted on Steve's table. But it's necessary. In fact, from what I'm seeing, if I had worn this kilt much longer with the fabric being stretched and the stitching being stressed like it was, I'm afraid I might have done more permanent damage. So I'm glad we caught this when we did. At this point, I'm assuming the kilt can be retrofitted with a stabilizer and proper interfacing, and returned to service.

To answer the question that's been asked several times, I don't know who made this kilt. I can tell you who I bought it from, but that's not who made it. This kilt came from Skye Highland Outfitters about a year and a half ago. This was the original thread from when I received it. The kilt was, according to Josh, made in Scotland by someone he subcontracted there. I have no clue who he was using then for constructing traditional kilts, or who he's using now. The size 34 tag in there suggests that it was done by a somewhat industrial shop, though that's just a guess on my part.

I consider this a classic example of needing to do one's homework before spending money on a kilt. And talking to the actual kiltmaker directly. When I bought this kilt, I didn't know what questions to ask. All I knew was that I wanted an 8-yard, 16-oz kilt. And his price looked pretty good. But as I'm learning now, there's a lot more to it than that, in terms of how a kilt is actually built. I didn't really think I should need to know the finer points of kilt construction details in order to get a quality kilt. I know better now, and my next kilt will come from a top-quality kiltmaker with a long history of excellent work, with whom I deal directly.

This isn't to say that my kilt is junk. It's a good kilt - it fits me well and looks great, has great swish, and is made from quality fabric (Lochcarron Strome, IIRC). But it just has a couple of deficiencies in the way it was built. Hopefully we'll be able to retrofit it and get it back on the road. And provide some education for the rabble along the way. Not only in terms of how kilts are (or should be) made, but in terms of why quality craftsmanship matters.

This is good stuff! Information like this is why this forum is invaluable.