Measuring a youngin... room to grow?

[NPG]

I will be order a kilt for my son to be (fiancée's son) to wear in the wedding. He's 12 and I think he's got a ways to grow (he's around 5'7 and wears size 12 US shoes). When measuring him for his kilt is there a way to plan for some growing room? I'd love for this to be a kilt he can wear for the rest of his life.

Thanks in advance for any advice

[jetstar63]

You can start by looking for hilts with a Velcro attachment, and specify more hem.

[The Wizard of BC]

At 12 years old and size 12 shoes this young man will probably grow to be 6 foot tall or more so a hem that can be let down later is a good idea. Avoid synthetic fabrics as it will be very obvious where the hem was when you let it down.

You can build in growth pleats which can be let out as his girth increases.

I would not go for velcro as you say that you want this to be his adult kilt eventually. I would use normal straps and buckles but make the kilt large to begin with. An apron which overlaps by two or three inches is not a problem in a young kid and is almost un-noticable. Especially if the kilt is pleated to the stripe. As he grows you can simply move the straps and buckles.

[NPG]

At 12 years old and size 12 shoes this young man will probably grow to be 6 foot tall or more so a hem that can be let down later is a good idea. Avoid synthetic fabrics as it will be very obvious where the hem was when you let it down.

You can build in growth pleats which can be let out as his girth increases.

I would not go for velcro as you say that you want this to be his adult kilt eventually. I would use normal straps and buckles but make the kilt large to begin with. An apron which overlaps by two or three inches is not a problem in a young kid and is almost un-noticable. Especially if the kilt is pleated to the stripe. As he grows you can simply move the straps and buckles.

Thank you Wizard of BC for this advice. It is very much appreciated.

If I convey these ideas to out kilt maker in Scotland do you think would they be able to oblige us? Since we are having this same shop weave the custom tartan I thought I would have them make the kilts for us too. I suppose I can always hold off on having his kilt made by them and just use the yardage to make his kilt or have it made by someone who could build in these extras.

[The Wizard of BC]

NPG,

The best answer to your question is contact the person who will actually be making your son's kilt. Good communication back and forth is the whole secret to jobs like this.

[Barb T]

So, I'm going to offer a different view. Why not have a kilt made that fits well and looks good on him at the moment? If you were to have a kilt made with a significant hem, his kilt is either going to look like it's stitched down too far now or stitched down not far enough once you let the hem down. You don't want him to have a "flippy" kilt when he gets taller, but you also don't want him to have a kilt where the fell is stitched way down below his butt for the wedding. So, why not have a kilt made to fit him now sell it when he outgrows it, and get him a new one when he's bigger??

If it were me, I would make the kilt a few inches bigger at the waist and hips than his current measurements, but make the length close to right. If he gets bigger around, move the buckles and straps. As he gets a little taller, he can wear the kilt a little lower, and no one will notice. And remember, if someone grows 8" in height, the KILT LENGTH doesn't increase by that much. And truly, boys get a LOT of leggy length early and more torso length later. So, he could go for a couple years (maybe more than that) before really needing a longer kilt.

At that point, you could sell the kilt (a kilt that has not been altered has more value than one that has), and have a new one made. That's my advice. If you want him to wear the kilt when he's 20, 30, or 40, you don't want one that fit him when he was 12 and has been cobbled to fit him as an adult.

But, that's just my take.

[NPG]

So, I'm going to offer a different view. Why not have a kilt made that fits well and looks good on him at the moment? If you were to have a kilt made with a significant hem, his kilt is either going to look like it's stitched down too far now or stitched down not far enough once you let the hem down. You don't want him to have a "flippy" kilt when he gets taller, but you also don't want him to have a kilt where the fell is stitched way down below his butt for the wedding. So, why not have a kilt made to fit him now sell it when he outgrows it, and get him a new one when he's bigger??

If it were me, I would make the kilt a few inches bigger at the waist and hips than his current measurements, but make the length close to right. If he gets bigger around, move the buckles and straps. As he gets a little taller, he can wear the kilt a little lower, and no one will notice. And remember, if someone grows 8" in height, the KILT LENGTH doesn't increase by that much. And truly, boys get a LOT of leggy length early and more torso length later. So, he could go for a couple years (maybe more than that) before really needing a longer kilt.

At that point, you could sell the kilt (a kilt that has not been altered has more value than one that has), and have a new one made. That's my advice. If you want him to wear the kilt when he's 20, 30, or 40, you don't want one that fit him when he was 12 and has been cobbled to fit him as an adult.

But, that's just my take.

Hello Barb,

You do have a point and maybe my asking for this to be a kilt that will last him the rest of his life is not exactly realistic. The main reason for wanting a kilt that will last longer is because this is a custom weave family tartan, so I probably will not be selling it off as he out grows it. I think if her were 18 I wouldn't be as worried, about the sizing, I just know he's at the age where he is likely to grow a bunch and given the size of his feet, I'm pretty sure he is not done growing.

I guess what I really would like is to have this kilt get him through his growing. If I can get 5 to 6 years out of this kilt I'd be very happy with that. That being said, the main reason for this is the wedding and it is more important that he feel happy and comfortable in his kilt now than how much time we get out of it.

[RockyR]

I 100% agree with Barb. I don't know anyone whose kilt that fit their 12 year old body would be able to fit them as an adult (or even close, even with room to let things out).

Might I suggest this? Have the kilt made with a LITTLE room for expansion (2" hem) and have an extra 4.5 yards (double width) cloth woven up. In 10 years when he wants a new kilt, you'll only have to find a kiltmaker, not have a whole new bolt woven.

[Geoff Withnell]

I 100% agree with Barb. I don't know anyone whose kilt that fit their 12 year old body would be able to fit them as an adult (or even close, even with room to let things out).

Might I suggest this? Have the kilt made with a LITTLE room for expansion (2" hem) and have an extra 4.5 yards (double width) cloth woven up. In 10 years when he wants a new kilt, you'll only have to find a kiltmaker, not have a whole new bolt woven.

I would suggest getting some extra fabric in any case. We ended up with a lot of leftover Davidson tartan after my wife finished the sewing of ladies and girls dresses for my son's wedding. We are constantly finding ways to use a little here and a little there. If the purse will stand it, you won't regret having some extra.

[NPG]

I 100% agree with Barb. I don't know anyone whose kilt that fit their 12 year old body would be able to fit them as an adult (or even close, even with room to let things out).

Might I suggest this? Have the kilt made with a LITTLE room for expansion (2" hem) and have an extra 4.5 yards (double width) cloth woven up. In 10 years when he wants a new kilt, you'll only have to find a kiltmaker, not have a whole new bolt woven.

RockyR,

Thank you, I think that is essential what I am going to try and do, build is a little room for expansion to try to have this kilt last him as long as it can, and then later we will have a new kilt made. We are having 30 meters woven, so hopefully there will be enough left later when he is ready for a new kilt.

I would suggest getting some extra fabric in any case. We ended up with a lot of leftover Davidson tartan after my wife finished the sewing of ladies and girls dresses for my son's wedding. We are constantly finding ways to use a little here and a little there. If the purse will stand it, you won't regret having some extra.

Goeff,

What ways have you found to use the left over materials? My Fiancée intends to use some of the extra material to make a duvet cover for our bed, as well as incorporate some of the material into her dress. We are also likely to make ribbon ties for the wedding bouquets and flowers from the material as well. But I'm curious what other ideas are out there.