Quote Originally Posted by Seaforth Piper View Post
Never Never NEVER 'hem' a kilt! the pleats won't hang properly and people like me will publically mock you...

first step: make sure that you can properly tighten the straps and buckles, and move them so you can. I can often shorten a kilt by a couple of inches with this one step.

2nd step: move the straps and buckles down by the required amount (they will stay at the same point on your torso when you tighten them, which lifts the kilt.

3rd step: shorten from the top if required (bearing in mind that kilts in general and military kilts in particular are worn higher than modern eyes find usual.
Generally speaking, it is better to have a non-hemmed kilt. There are circumstances that will not allow any other alternative, that is when you do a hem. I have made kilts with a hem because of a bad selvage or if the person is expected to grow in the near future. Most will never know that the kilt is hemmed, it can be hidden well if done right.

Kilt challenge: What would you do if you had to make a kilt with material that has bad selvages?

Cheers,