Adjusting Kilt Length? URGENT

[Barb T]

Just want to share a tip from the dance world. As you can imagine, dance kilts can go through many owners in their lifetime. To save on hemming or to make do for a few competitions waiting on that expected growth spurt, dancers may sometimes wear suspenders on their kilts to pull it up a few inches.

I know lots of dancers do this, but I have to say that you can spot a dancer wearing suspenders under a dance vest from a mile away. The suspenders invariably pull of the front of the kilt so that it "pooches" and doesn't lie flat across the front (kind of like farmer john pants). I would take the trouble to hem a dancer's kilt so that it looks better on, even if it's only for a few competitions. It's just not that big a job to hem a kilt.

[Dixiecat]

I know lots of dancers do this, but I have to say that you can spot a dancer wearing suspenders under a dance vest from a mile away. The suspenders invariably pull of the front of the kilt so that it "pooches" and doesn't lie flat across the front (kind of like farmer john pants). I would take the trouble to hem a dancer's kilt so that it looks better on, even if it's only for a few competitions. It's just not that big a job to hem a kilt.

Too true Barb. You and I would take the time to hem, but for some people, hemming is like another world.

But, for the kilt that fits and it's the weight that needs supporting, suspenders will work fairly well. Watch out for the farmer john look though!

[Alan H]

I am wearing an eight yard Grey Stewart kilt right now, and it's hemmed. It's one of my nicest kilts and since it's made from lighter cloth, the hem adds a bit of weight and swish. I did the hemming by hand. My Modern MacNicol is hemmed which I did by hand. My Lindsay 6 yard is hemmed, which I did by hand.. I could go on.

[Deil the Yin]

Suspenders can also aid in 'supporting' the kilt so that your abdomen doesn't go on strike. I believe some of the military kilts come with suspender buttons already sewn on due to the heavy weight of the kilt.

I agree about suspenders. I wear suspenders with my military weight kilt, and it was such an improvement in comfort that I had suspender buttons installed in my lighter civilian kilts. I still wear a kilt belt, but I no longer depend on it to hold anything up, and I no longer depend on the kilt straps, either. Suspenders all around! Cheers!

Doh! I shoulda had a Guinness...

Suspenders- What a good idea. My Dad had suspender/bracer buttons put on his new kilt, too. It's his first so I have to give kudos to 'im for that! I've never run into this, though? Somebody's been holdin' out on me!!! :P

Thanks so much for the suspenders tip!

[guitarmatt]

Obviously lighter weight fabrics take well to hemming, my own kilt is hemmed as well, but could one convincingly hem a regimental weight kilt? Is it worth getting an ex-military kilt and shortening it to a more civilian friendly length?

[Dixiecat]

Obviously lighter weight fabrics take well to hemming, my own kilt is hemmed as well, but could one convincingly hem a regimental weight kilt? Is it worth getting an ex-military kilt and shortening it to a more civilian friendly length?

Yes.

Length isn't the issue. It's the fell. You can lengthen the fell, but shortening the fell is not possible if the pleats have been cut to reduce bulk. You might be about to shorten the fell by about 1" if you really were careful and reinforced the cut section in the back, but I've only ever speculated about that in my head so not sure if you'd really want to do that.

[guitarmatt]

Yes.

Length isn't the issue. It's the fell. You can lengthen the fell, but shortening the fell is not possible if the pleats have been cut to reduce bulk. You might be about to shorten the fell by about 1" if you really were careful and reinforced the cut section in the back, but I've only ever speculated about that in my head so not sure if you'd really want to do that.

Good point, I'll keep an eye out for fell length as well as over all length.