Low yardage on a large frame?

[usonian]

I never did finish it and have since lost a bunch of weight, but last year I was trying to figure out how to make four yards of fabric into a box pleated kilt for my somewhat ample frame. (At the time I think my waist was 42", hips around 47" - Discussion one, discussion two) long story short: 4 yards is really pushing it with those measurements. When I decided to add about a yard of solid-color fabric for the underapron, everything fell into place. That extra yard makes a big difference.