Confession time

[Barb T]

You might have a look at the post I did last fall on a kilt for a woman:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...t-woman-75461/

I basically started with regular measurements and adjusted them. You're doing basically the same thing except starting with a fully made kilt. What you're aiming for is similar, tough.

Do I understand that, by lopping off 3", you're aiming for a kilt that rides below the waist? If so, you can't put on a normal stabilizer, because the kilt will taper all the way from the bottom of the fell to the top of the kilt. For the kilt in the post above, I used a piece of twill tape 1/2" wide and sewn along the line where I was planning to put the top band. Keeps the top from stretching, but it allows for the taper. And, if you want it to fit well, measure her 1" below her waist where she will be wearing the top of the kilt, and use that measurement to make sure that the stabilizer holds the kilt at that measurement.

You definitely don't want to stitch the fell any lower, because it's only the top of the kilt that will ride lower - the bottom of the fell will still be in the same place.

And I would not bother with a buttonhole. I would use the kind of inside strap that we use on a box pleat kilt. That way, you won't have to open a new buttonhole. If you want instructions, you can download a pdf from my web site at http://people.hamilton.edu/btewksbu/personal/kiltmaking Just scroll down to the bottom of the right hand column, and click on the link to the supplement.

Oh - and you'll also want to do something to secure the stitching at the top of each pleat so that your pleats won't unravel.