Kilts and Sweaters

**svc40bt** · 12th October 09, 04:40 PM

I have 2 fine gauge mock turtleneck sweaters, one silk, one cotton, that I wear tucked in with pants or kilt. Other sweaters, I wear untucked.

**McClef** · 12th October 09, 04:47 PM

Untucked and unrolled here too, I still like to wear a belt even though it might be hidden in case it gets warm enough to take the sweater off.

**Nighthawk** · 12th October 09, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

If you tuck a heavy sweater into a kilt, you have an enormous amount of material tight around your waistline. Uncomfortable, and even in cold weather rather warm. If the sweater is outside, at least it can move freely as you do.

Geoff Withnell

You beat me to that one! I only have one sweater, and it never gets tucked in. I do have 2 hockey jerseys, though- and they never get tucked in, either. There is a lot of material there!

Originally Posted by McClef

Untucked and unrolled here too, I still like to wear a belt even though it might be hidden in case it gets warm enough to take the sweater off.

I never thought of that! I just wear the best because I need somewhere to attach my belt pouch, sporran, and key fob.

**DryFly** · 12th October 09, 05:55 PM

I'll chime in with agreement to all of the above. I wear both sweaters and sweater vests untucked and unrolled. I like the look and have recieved nothing but compiments.

**Doftya** · 12th October 09, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

Here's another thought.

Like Hamish said, if you think the sweater needs to be "fixed" at the bottom, it is perhaps too long. But, even if it is an OK length, it may be too "big". I have several sweaters that were just too big around for me. I'm 6'3", and if a sweater is not "long" sized, I have to buy an extra-large to get the sleeve length I need. That means that it was made to fit around someone with considerably more girth than I have. Thus the sweater hangs badly, in my opinion.

My fix is to take up the slack along the side seams. Most sweaters are joined along a seam from the arm pit to the hem. Turn the sweater inside out and stitch (small and numerous by hand...use a machine if you can) another seam inside the first. I'll take up several inches at the hem end, tapering to nothing at the arm pit. When done, just cut off the excess material (which includes the original seam) and you're done. By fitting a bit more snugly at the waist, you solve the need to tuck or roll or otherwise adjust the bottom of the sweater.

I'm with you on this one. I'm 6'2", and most shirts and sweaters to fit my arm length ends up baggy. I stitched my T-shirt size one down lately cause my wife thinks it's dang sexy, but I still like the arms to be full length. I was wanting to ask the question for two reasons. Firstly, most sweaters would add an incredible amount of bulk under the belt. Don't like that idea. Secondly, if left to hang, how low should it hand? I was thinking an inch or so above the sporran at the lowest. My wife is thinking of knitting me a sweater, and I was wondering if having it made a little shorter so it hangs better. Something like a kilt specific vest or jacket is shorter. Just wondering.

Thanks so much for the advice so far!

**Bigkahuna** · 12th October 09, 07:48 PM

I often wear a sweater and never tuck it in or wear a belt. I have once in a great while, worn suspenders under the sweater to support the kilt abit more without the belt but more for my peace of mind than actual need.

**ForresterModern** · 13th October 09, 05:08 AM

Most of my sweaters naturally gather in at the waist due to the knitting construction, especially heavyweight wools like my Arans. I place that gathered waist at or just over my belt and buckle, and the rest just gathers naturally around my waist or hangs slightly loosely maybe a smidge lower, but still above the sporran. The back rests very naturally on my buttocks along the fell of the kilt above where the actual pleats start, leaving plenty of both the pleated and apron portions of the kilt nicely visible. A nice relaxed comfortable look IMHO. Sorry I don't have any pics to show----It is still too warm here to get the woolies out of storage yet, but soon.

**HarborSpringsPiper** · 13th October 09, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

Untucked and unrolled here too, I still like to wear a belt even though it might be hidden in case it gets warm enough to take the sweater off.

Exactly. Same with wearing pants. The belt is superfluous when hidden, unless you need it for fitting reasons, or as a hanger as someone else noted, but I think the kilt looks unfinished without a belt wearing just a shirt and/or jacket without a waistcoat.