I have a little experience with making kilts smaller as I began making and wearing kilts as I lost weight.

There are different techniques for making a kilt smaller, some simple and some requiring remaking.

The simplest is leaving all the fabric as it is and moving the fastenings, so the kilt is wrapped tighter. This increases the percentage of the kilt which is the visible apron, and moves the previous centre back towards the right hip - not a problem with some pleating methods, but where pleated to the sett the centre front and back would tend to be no longer a match nor be centred on the pattern.

If you have a rare tartan or a simply made kilt without much reinforcement in the fell then it might be worth the time to have it resizes, the first professionally and the second by a competent sewer, but I suspect that for a medium quality kilt it would be as cost effective to sell it and buy the correct size.

I have the luxury of being able to remake kilts myself, and the one I am wearing at the moment has been reincarnated at least three times that I can remember and has lost 12 inches from the waist. The time taken would probably add up to more than required to make from new, but as I don't pay for it it is of no consequence.

If you know anyone who could make you an X kilt, or perhaps you could take up the task yourself it would be worthwhile.

Looking at the kilt I am wearing, I have to say that it is well worth using a quality fabric for a good visual effect. This kilt is perfectly comfortable and it fits, but time has not been kind to it and only a gentle wash, a lot of ironing, spray starch and pressing would make it look acceptable again. The fabric is really too light, has too soft a handle and finish to look smart without a lot of attention.

Anne the Pleater