Weight loss

[Red_Raven]

Well Being the girlfriend. I would say I'm up for the pleats but it might cost ya a Bottle of 15 year Cask Rum to get me going! at 1 for each kilt by the time he drop s three sizes I should be well toasted

[Pleater]

Having lost twelve inches off my waist during my time wearing kilts - the kilts were originally one of those things which seemed like a really good idea at the time.....

most of my kilts have now been taken apart and remade three or four times.

First - the process doesn't seem to have done any harm - and has in some cases meant that damage or stains could be hidden or removed.

Second - once the pleats were put into the cloth it was not all that difficult or time consuming to make the reveals smaller - but, I made the kilts originally and did not do lots of tailoring as the whole aim was to have something that could be undone easily. However - as long as we are not talking about really expensive top notch kilts, just something worth working on to make them wearable then it should all go well.

But an easier option might be to do the simplest form of reduction, just move the buckle(s) on the right hip further round onto the pleats and then alter the under apron fixing as best done - either moving the fastening or putting in a pleat, or just cut off the excess and redo the edge.


Good luck with the reduction, and the continued reducing in circumference.

[cacunn]

I'm up for the pleats but it might cost ya a Bottle of 15 year Cask Rum to get me going!

Pleat first
Rum later

Unless you speak to the F-H.A.C.G she seem to be able to toast and keep the seams straight. Thats talent

[MysticMead]

Having lost twelve inches off my waist during my time wearing kilts -

WOW.. and I thought my 2-3 inch loss was good... congrats on the weight loss...

[ScottEPooh]

Although the idea of altering is good, selling old kilts that don't fit anymore is a great way to both share the kilt love and get cash to build the kilt kollection in that new, smaller size. I am personally the benefactor of someone's weight loss, bought a UK Workmans from a fellow that had lost some weight. It was one of my first, and offered me a less expensive way to get into kilting, as well as helping that fellow fund a new, smaller kilt. But I'm no tailor either, so the idea of constantly altering kilts gives me the heebie-jeebies!!

[ScottEPooh]

But either way you go, congrats on the weight loss!!!

[Phil]

Well done losing the weight, just a shame about the kilts. Maybe someone will invent one with an elasticated waistband one of these days.

[Dixiecat]

I have made 2 kilts using the Art of Kiltmaking. The 2nd kilt was made to replace the first one when I lost 65lbs. I considered remaking the first kilt, but I was working blind. The book Art of Kiltmaking does not address altering a kilt in any great depth, and the altering mentioned was more geared for those of increasing not decreasing girth.

I decided not to remake the first one because of the amount of work that I imagined would be involved in order to take up the large amount of fabric from the weight loss. And I estimated the cost of having MacIsaac Kiltmakers alter it to what it would cost for new tartan fabric.

As mentioned before, the balance of pleats to aprons needs to stay fairly constant (a bit more pleats than apron). The addition of an extra pleat is not really noticeable. However, I was faced with reducing the apron by 6.5" and adding a pleat to deal with the fabric. Thereby upsetting that balance between pleats and apron. I was looking at a major rework. So, I bit the bullet, offered up the kilt for sale and went on to make my new Dress Eildon.

(My last comp with the old kilt had me moving the buckles very far back, folding under the underapron and hoping it wouldn't fall down doing the sword dance.)

For the new kilt, I showed a bit a prudence and made it an 1" (waist and hips) bigger than what I needed for a bit of flexibility. It's been 2 years since the weight loss and I can say that I haven't needed that flexibility yet, but it's less expensive than making a new one!

ps. if you're wearing a used Dress Black Erskine that you purchased within the year, good on you!

[Mael Coluim]

Getting the gut was no problem at all. Getting rid of it, on the other hand, is proving to be a pain in the rear...

I've fought the battle of the bulge all my life. This spring I followed the advice in the book, EAT TO LIVE. In ten weeks I lost 25 pounds and 3 inches of the waist (thought I better clarify where I lost the inches with this crowd). And it was EASY! Better than that I've lost my food addictions to "salty snacks and chocolate." And Beer/wine/single malt is allowed on the eating plan.

As for my kilts; I wearing my first kilt that I couldn't wear for 7 years! My more recent 'heavy' purchased kilts I'm having altered. And I celebrated by buying two kilts from Stillwater and have ordered a 4 yard box pleat from Matt Newsome.

Good luck!

[ChromeScholar]

Current loss is 15 pounds. I ought to be out of water weight now, and the weight loss should stabilize to a pound or sos a week (or so I'm told).