Kilt Waist Adjustment?

[Fortiter Et Recte]

How many inches can you adjust a kilts waist using the leather straps?

[DavidW]

Quite a bit actually. Do a search for Kilt Adjustment.

Barb T's advice in the following thread - "Just remember that you have to move the underapron strap toward the center of the underapron the same amount that you move the buckles on the fringe edge. Don't move the buckle next to the button hole - moving it doesn't change the fit of the kilt."

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ze-kilt-75656/

Or this thread
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...oo-much-59745/

And if you really want all the details about the foundation of good kilt contruction, see this thread

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-period-70205/

The search suggested above will give many more ideas.

D

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think the OP is asking how many inches of adjustment does the typical leather strap allow in a kilt waist -- not about alterations involving moving the straps.

The answer will depend on the leather straps in question, of course, but 4" seems to be a good average.

[MacGumerait]

Fortiter , what Matt said .

Once you have determined your waist size for a kilt ( meaning kilt waist not pants waist ) , that waist size is generally the center hole of the kilt strap .

The kilt straps generally have five holes . The center hole is the waist size you have specified . There are two other holes on that strap on both sides of the center hole that allow you to adjust larger or smaller .

As Matt stated , normally this allows for appx. two inches larger or two inches smaller , give or take .

There are other ways to expand the waist as mentioned ( i.e. altering the kilt , kilt strap extenders , etc ) but if you are wanting to know the range of adjustment of the standard kilt strap , it is appx. 2 " up or 2 " down from the center hole as Matt stated ( meaning about 4 " overall ).

Do understand , that if you are buying a pre-owned kilt or a vintage kilt , that the general kilt strap rule regarding a center hole and it's adjustments may or may not hold true ( the kilt may have been made to a different specificaton ) . If you are going that route ( which is perfectly fine ) be sure to inquire more than once about waist size and the kilt strap holes and their adjustment . That sort of thing can vary depending on the circumstances .

All of that said , happy kilting !!

[DavidW]

Opps. I guess I read more into the original post than was written or asked.

fwiw - I have two kilts, each from a different maker, ( Alexis Malcolm Kilts and USAK).

Both have a waist range of 3 inches from first to last hole on the straps.

The AMK straps have 4 holes, thus each is 1 inch apart.

The USAK straps have 5 holes, thus each is about 3/4 inch apart.

D

[TheOfficialBren]

Just out of curiosity, Matt, how far apart are the holes on your kilt straps on the average and do your measurements begin with the smallest hole or middle hole?
Thank you.

[slohairt]

As many have already stated, it depends where the kiltmaker places the straps and buckles during construction. Some makers (like myself) place it so that it fits on the middle hole, while others use the tightest hole. Ask if you are unsure.

The kilt straps I currently use have 7 holes spaced 1/2 inch apart. Previously I used 5-hole straps which were also spaced 1/2 inch apart.