Guess what we found!

[QMcK]

Hi,

Very exciting news!

Mum just found a good, heavy Mackenzie tartan kilt in the wardrobe of the spare room. We haven't looked in the wardrobe for years, so I don't think either of us knew it was there.

We think that it is my Grand-Uncle (?) Sandy's kilt. (He's my Mum's Mum's brother.) He played the bagpipes before WWII. During the war, he was in the Navy, and a mine blew up close to his ship. His hearing was severely damaged and after the war he got the job of swinging the mace.

It's too small for me by about an inch and a quarter, but I tried on my kilt skirt, too. It seems to have 'shrunk'. It's even smaller on me. So I know that at a proper weight I could fit into the kilt Mum found. It's a bit too long, though. It comes to the bottom of my knee.

Anyway, now I have some more incentive to watch what I eat and do some exercise.

For when I eventually can fit into it, have you any suggestions as to getting it taken up? I'm thinking I'll either have a hem put in or just leave it as it is.

Quentin.

Edit: It is pleated to the line.

[KFCarter]

What a great find! I've read threads that discuss hemming but I'm all thumbs when it comes to needle and thread. I'm sure one of our kiltmakers can help you with that question.
:ootd:

[Bugbear]

Congratulations. Barb T. has discussed hemming a kilt quite a few times. She might give you some advice.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

This may be an historic event worth marking -- the first Narnian kilt discovered!

[QMcK]

Thanks for the replies. I'll search the forum for info about hemming. Any further advice would be appreciated as well.

Good point, Mr. Newsome. Sandy died in the late 70s, so it has probably been hanging in our wardrobe for about 30 years.

[Mipi]

Be sure you need to shorten it in first place. You should wear it very high (above the waist line).

Just to be sure...

[Joseph McLaren]

Be sure you need to shorten it in first place. You should wear it very high (above the waist line).

Just to be sure...

Just what I was going to say. An inch or two about the navel is where mine comes to. What a fantastic find!

[McFarkus]

Be sure you need to shorten it in first place. You should wear it very high (above the waist line).

Just to be sure...

And if it was a military kilt (I think it was the Seaforth Highlanders that used the MacKenzie tartan) it is worn up under the ribs).

[turpin]

Not to mention that if it is a military weight (18-22 oz heavy wool) a hem might be more obvious than if it were a lighter weight.

[McMurdo]

What a wonderful find, again a kiltmaker could help, and I would talk to one first, I was just thinking though it may be possible to move the straps to let it out that wee amount. Then you could wear it now.