Apron opening to the left? Can it be reversed?

[madmacs]

This can be, and is, done quite often. The usual reason for a kilt having the apron open on the left is because it was made for a women. There is a school of thought that if it is made for a woman it should be fastened opposite of something made for a man.

I believe that this is actually because Ladies had a maid to help them dress, and doing someone elses buttons up is a pita if theyre not the wrong way...

And I could sooooooooo pull off that mcquarrie story...

[O'Callaghan]

In a word: No. It can't be done. If the Kilt was made...backwards...then the pleats are all facing the wrong direction, and you can't fix that without COMPLETELY disassembling and literally remaking the kilt. Could you just swap the inner and outer smocks around? Well, with a bit of stitching, you could. Still, I don't know if it would pass muster.

Just my $.02

That's it in a nutshell. RenFest people reverse the aprons all the time to get the closure on the men's side, but they can be easily spotted because the pleats still run the wrong way around the kilt, and that is orders of magnitude harder to fix, if not nigh on impossible. Most people wearing converted ladies' kilts are RenFest crew, and they aren't known for caring about authenticity. Nor are their patrons, if it comes to that.

It is definitely a ladies' kilt, BTW. Ignore all the nonsense about if being made for someone left-handed. Ladies in pipe bands wear men's kilts without blushing, but if you wear a kilt that fastens on the wrong side, or even a coat that does, heaven forbid, you might almost as well wear a tutu or a floral dress for all most people care. So much for equality, LOL!

[gwynng]

After a lot of advice from several members, I decided to try Matt Newsome's and give a try to reversing the aprons on the kilt. As it turned out it was not particularly difficult after reading about how aprons are constructed in TAoK. So after some careful ripping out of stitching and removal of buckles and straps did what I think is a pretty decent job for a novice. It does help that I am working on my first kilt with the help of Barb's great book. I was feeling a little more brave thanks to the book.

Matt offered the advice of an internal buckle on the left, which works really well and eliminates the need for a new buttonhole. Moving the straps and buckles was pretty easy. The trickiest part was the fringe. I was able to salvage the fringe strip from the old apron do a flip on the right side apron and follow Barb's instructions for making the apron fringe. It taught me how important basting is in the whole process too. That is a valuable lesson alone.

All in all I am very happy with my new kilt. It is a 7 yard 13 oz wool and was a total bargain. May never know exactly why it was built with reversed aprons, but the kilt now has a proper right handed opening and fits quite well. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

PS - YES! the selvage hits right at the middle of my knee cap...camera angle.

cheers!

[dh20318]

I read the thread from the beginning and was all ready to chime in with , I would not pass up such a find. Then after completing the thread was so glad that you proceeded to obtain the bargain and even went so far as to attempt to make the desired changes. I am hoping to acquire Barbs book but with what I have leaned from the website would deffinitely have attempted the desired changes and seeing the final pic. was very glad that you persevered. When one is doing the work without hiring it out, the cost is insignificant exp. if it is and obviously is such a nice result! Bravo! Kilt on!

[gwynng]

Thanks DH. It was a little time consuming, but mostly because I did it in dribs and drabs over a week or two. I would DEFINITELY say get Barb's book. I am working on my first kilt from scratch and just finished my pleats (25 in all!) and stitched the last pleat to the inner apron. Going well...I think!

[madmacs]

And the $64,000 question... Are the pleats reversed, or going the same way as a "mens" kilt?

[CDNSushi]

And the $64,000 question... Are the pleats reversed, or going the same way as a "mens" kilt?

Truth be told, having reversed pleat direction can make it easier to slide in and out of the driver's seats of opposite-hand drive vehicles, like here in Japan or the UK...

[Clockwork]

That is a splendid looking kilt! I'm glad all worked out, and you even acquired a gift equally as nice as the kilt itself - invaluable knowledge via experience through making the desired alterations.

I hope you enjoy your kilt through the many years to come.

Cheers,
-Jake

[gwynng]

...in answer to the $64000 question: Pleats are not reversed. Are just like my other kilt and like the one I am sewing right now. Okay not exactly...the pleats on the MacDonald in the pics are a lot more accurate than the ones I am sewing!

[tpa]

We have at least two men here who prefer to make their kilts with left facing pleats. They both live in N. America and find getting into a car with left facing pleats much easier.

Truth be told, having reversed pleat direction can make it easier to slide in and out of the driver's seats of opposite-hand drive vehicles, like here in Japan or the UK...

To me these two quotes are contradictory. I've never worn reverse pleats but would ghuess that just as you sweep right facing pleats with your right hand, you sweep laeft facing ones with your left. I've worn my kilts to drive both LHD and RHD vehicles and never noticed a problem and whatever side the seat is on you will be sliding "against" the pleats either getting in or getting out.

Great looking kilt and I loved the McQuarrie story too.