First kilt. High on the waist?

**Tobus** · 7th September 12, 05:26 AM

If there's room to punch another hole, there shouldn't be any problems in doing so. It won't stress the leather or ruin anything. It's the best solution, actually!

**sailortats** · 7th September 12, 06:01 AM

I had to punch a hole in the strap on my first kilt as I had lost weight also. It now fits me well and there is no apparent added stress to the strap, and I wear this kilt frequently.

**CMcG** · 7th September 12, 08:52 AM

I think showing some knees is more important than where the top of the kilt sits; I've seen contemporary kilts that sit low on the hips, like a pair of pants and I've seen military kilts that look they go up to the lads' nipples!

That being said, a traditional kilt will feel more comfortable if the straps/buckles sit at the natural waist, where they can get a grip on the 'divot' between the top of the hip bones and the bottom of the rid cage. I've had to punch extra holes on straps too, so no problem there.

If the kilt is not quite the right length to show some knee and you therefor can't both have it sit at the natural waist as well as show some knee, a belt is quite helpful. If I'm going to wear a waistcoat, I use suspenders/braces instead. Either belt or waistcoat can help the kilt from looking 'too high.'

**unclevenus** · 26th November 12, 10:40 AM

Punched the hole in it and it worked great. I lost another 10 pounds and I've had it.. I need beer and bread. Have no more room to punch another hole.

Lastly.. if I wanted to take 1/4 to maybe 1/2 inch off of the kilt length (just being mental over it also draping my knees), how hard would it be for a decent tailor to trim it down? Or is this a big NO / gray area I should avoid and just suck it up and hike the kilt higher?

**Tobus** · 26th November 12, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by unclevenus

Punched the hole in it and it worked great. I lost another 10 pounds and I've had it.. I need beer and bread. Have no more room to punch another hole.

Lastly.. if I wanted to take 1/4 to maybe 1/2 inch off of the kilt length (just being mental over it also draping my knees), how hard would it be for a decent tailor to trim it down? Or is this a big NO / gray area I should avoid and just suck it up and hike the kilt higher?

For only a quarter- to half-inch, I'd just hike the kilt up a bit. Kilts can be hemmed, but you'd likely need to be taking more away from the length than you're talking about.

**unclevenus** · 26th November 12, 12:34 PM

Feels like it would be far more. Is this hemming something that a general tailor would be knowledgeable on? I know a few reputable ones but didn't know if this is something (kilts) that you can just take to your local mom and pop or if you advise on sending it off to a kilt maker.

**Tobus** · 26th November 12, 01:34 PM

Kilts are usually hemmed by simply turning up the desired amount at the bottom and using a blind hem method of stitching it. Any alteration shop can do it. I used a local seamstress to do it to one of my inexpensive (i.e. not tailored to my size) kilts that I needed to take up 2 inches. I'm not overly fond of the extra thickness at the bottom, but it's better than wearing a kilt that's too long.