Tailor (new member) asking for help

**Cutter** · 17th July 08, 02:08 PM

@Pleated: Indeed, the fusing is likely to cause problems. Besides, my client already spent a lot of money on this kilt, and I really want to try to keep my hours minimal.

@Wiz:
Re: point 4: If I understand correctly, I'd have to take out all the pleats, yes? Aside from the time it takes, I'm loathe to go that far, simply for not having knowledge of, or experience with, kilts. Plus, the fusing issue.

re: point 5 and onward: Here it seems to me, you intend for me to remove only pleats from the center back, am I right? That I can handle. However, logic tells me that I would have to remove half the oversize from the aprons, and the other half from the center back. I'm confused, because with 16cm pleats, I'd have to take out 8cm center back, which leaves me with one pleat, center back, of a mere 8 cm. That can't be right.

Truth be told, I'm really always thrown off by pleats. I'm a gents' tailor. I'd post a picture, but I don't know how....

Do you think, Oh Revered Wiz, you would be able to supply me with a picture, or even just a sketch, of how to do it?

**ChattanCat** · 17th July 08, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cutter

Truth be told, I'm really always thrown off by pleats. I'm a gents' tailor. I'd post a picture, but I don't know how....

Now wait a minute, I am a gent's tailor and I make manly kilts.

Ok, I don't do pants...

**The Wizard of BC** · 17th July 08, 05:55 PM

Cutter,

Point 4 - No! you do not un-stitch all the pleats. You are only going to un-stitch enough to lay out the fabric in the center of the back to be able to see what you are doing.

If I'm not mistaken you need to reduce the size of the waist of the kilt by 15cm. Your pleats have 2.5cm of reveal to each one if measured at the hip line. 15/2.5=6. You are going to remove 6 pleats. Each pleat accounts for 2.5cm of the total reduction.

You un-stitch the pleat where the join is and the 6 pleats on one side of the join. (It is usual to remove the pleats on the outer apron side.)

Then when you have removed the excess material you only need to put stitches back into the three or four pleats that you took out to gain access.

If I could speak to you I could explain this in about two minutes. Do you have Skype? We could do a video call and I could show you the entire process in less time than it takes to type it.

If you don't have Skype send me your phone no. via Private Message and I will call you on my dime.

This entire process should only take three or four hours. Even for the inexperienced. I can reduce a kilt in 2.5 hours if I don't stop for a cup of coffee.

**Cutter** · 17th July 08, 11:14 PM

Thanks Wiz. Sent you a PM.

**Cutter** · 19th July 08, 01:37 PM

Last night, I had a long skype talk with the esteemed member Wizard of BC.
It must be an utter delight to have such a knowledgeable, helpful, and kind member in the forum community.

Wiz, thank you very very much indeed, I learned a lot!

As for the kilt, I now know how to go about altering it. Thank you all for your help.