Mystery Kilt

[Bugbear]

Before I acquired a proper kilt, I wore a woman's kilt with the closure flipped. You have to cut a slit in the waistband to allow the "backwards" closing and the best thing is to bind that, to avoid fraying. ...

You could just use the "Matt Newsome" style of underapron strap and buckle, where the buckle is on the inside of the kilt. No need for a buttonhole slot for the strap...

[KiltUnknown]

Wow, great discussion! I can't wait to post pictures....

[Alan H]

I took apart two womens kilt skirts that were in the same tartan, meticulously pulled threads, re-hemmed one of them to make sure the hems were in the same place on the tartan pattern and then made one nice 7 yard kilt for myself.

[O'Callaghan]

Left over Right = Folded left first, then right?

Umm ... No

And as Squeaky said, if you convert it, the pleats will all face the wrong way. I spotted one like that when I was at the RenFest with my son, and he said something about it before I could, even though he doesn't wear a kilt.

In addition, men's kilts are all approximately knee length, whereas women's are all different lengths, but the most traditional is mid calf, and you often see ones that length on eBay that have been converted to open on the men's side, but being that long is also a giveaway.

[Squeaky McMurdo]

As I said, it depends on the maker. My ladies' kilt from Scotweb has the pleats facing the same way as a man's kilt and is made with at least 5 yards of material so the pleats are nice and deep...it just opens on the left and would be too short (18 inches...I'm short) for a man.

I looked at Arlen's thread about the conversion he did and it gave me ideas for getting my dad kilted cheaply in wool. (cute dog btw Arlen)

--Chelsea McMurdo--

[WClarkB]

Left over Right = Folded left first, then right?

? folded to the left and then the outer end folded to the right?
if so that is correct

[robthehiker]

You could just wear it as is and when people say "nice kilt" you can angrily reply "IT'S NOT A KILT, IT'S A SKIRT!".

Welcome from Oakville, Ontario.

[sathor]

ouch, that was harsh

perhaps, but it wouldn't be the first time on here it has happened. (And it appears it may have happened again)

[ForresterModern]

For anybody having trouble telling a womans from a mans kilt, simply put it on as it is designed to be put on, and look down at the front (outside and visible) apron---if the fringe is on the wearer's right it is a mans kilt, if the fringe is on the wearer's left it is a womans kilt. Simple.

[Sammac]

Welcome from Michigan and good luck on the conversion