Adjustments

[Andrews Son]

Hello all,

Sorry i haven't posted in a while i have a mate staying over, and been busy being a host.

But i'll break in with the good news ive lost weight.... yyaaaayyy

Bad news one of my kilts does not fit, i have not checked my other two kilts yet. But there only cheap PV ones. Im holding fire with buying woolen kilts until stop losing weight.

But im wearing my saffron kilt which i have not wore in a while, last time i wore it was couple of months ago and i was on the third from last hole on belt strap and now its fully done up and its very loose.

Its actually around my trouser waist now and is sitting very comfortably at my hips. Im sorry if i offend some people i really dont mean to but i wanted a kilt to sit this low for use in the summertime. So i believe i have the one to do so.

But i think i need to make some adjustments, i have no digital camera but im thinking of investing in one soon. So sorry i cant take photos of how it is now.
But the bottom of the fell is at the bottom of my buttocks. (where it meets the thigh) It does not look good, it curves in under my buttocks and then drops. I'm thinking of taking some of the fell stiches out until it is at where the fell should be and shortening the length of the kilt to top of the knee to re-adjust the kilt to fit at the trouser waistline.

What do you say, is it worth the time and effort, its useless to me at the moment, so to me its worth doing.
Am i going about it the right way, shortening the fell stitches and overall length?
If so, would it be best to cut the overall length or tuck up and stitch?

I look forward to your replies,

All the best
Gavin


P.S if just got TAoK, it arrived this morning and been reading. So thank you again Barbara.

[jhockin]

Probably best to sell the old one, and use the $ to buy fabric to make a new one for yourself.

[John_Carrick]

Moving the buckles can allow a waist adjustment of 2 or 3 inches, but even this I would get done by a kilt maker (I can manage a shirt button), but its probably not rocket science. I gather than changing the length is a big project.
Perhaps keep the kilts in a spare wardrobe in case the weight comes back or sell them as suggested and buy new.

[Chas]

I think you are asking for trouble. The kilt was built to fit a certain body size and be worn at a certain height.

Shortening means hemming - 8 yards of hemming - 8 yards of hidden hemming. If you use a sewing machine on it you will see it forever.

I do not think the conversion will be worth it.

[WillowEstate]

Congratulations on the weight loss, not easy in the winter with Christmas and all!

As to your proposed alteration, I agree with the earlier posts, it's a major project. Depending on how much you lost, say up to a couple of inches, I'd be inclined to try moving the buckles first and put the kilt back where it was designed to be worn. That won't give you the "trouser hang" you want though. If you hope to lose more weight/size, this might be the best approach because you will likely need to do it again later. It's easier to reduce the front apron if it gets beyond buckle adjustment than the alteration you propose, especially if your kilt is solid saffron, rather than patterned.

For the alteration you proposed, seriously, I'd suggest you find a kiltmaker to discuss it with. Hemming 8 yards invisibly isn't a task to be undertaken lightly.

Since you've bought a copy of Barb's book, another approach (even more onerous) would be to dismantle the kilt, shorten the top and rebuild as new. But I think you'd be better off trading the kilt and getting a new one.

Your choice, good luck, whichever way you go.

[gwynng]

Congrats on the weight loss. If you are dead set on altering these kilts, I would first read all the way through Barb's book before doing anything. Learn the internal construction first. Pay special attention to how pleats are cut out on pp.90-91. Pulling stitches out of the fell might run into the cut out portion and completely ruin the garment. Also once you have pulled out stitches from the fell, it might be hard to keep the pleats secure from unraveling and coming to bits. So in short, altering the fell from the bottom seems like a process doomed to ruin the kilt.

I don't know about taking out the length from the top of the kilt, but perhaps TAoK will help to see the construction and what is involved.

Really, for my 2¢, it seems moving the buckles is the most reasonable, easiest and best way to alter the kilt. (p. 105) It may not give you the trouser waist you are seeking, but at least the kilt will fit again and not be spoiled in the process. Good luck.