kilts for Basic Training graduation

[cryerelizabeth]

I told my identical triplet sisters that are at Basic Combat training for the national guard right now (I'm the fraternal sister in the triplet combination and will be going next year) about the kilt that I just made for myself in one of my letters. They said that they would love for me to make one for each of them after their graduation and job training, before we three go to college.

Now, what my mother and I thought of doing is surprising each of them with a kilt for a Basic training graduation present. I am purchasing The Art of Kilt Making this weekend and plan on getting started on their kilts as soon as possible... but then I realized something... how would I be able to get their measurements without them knowing what I'm doing.

is there some way that I can guesstimate on their measurements, like finding some one their size to measure, or should I just write to them and ask and basically let them know what I plan on doing.

I need some help on this matter

[Calico]

I think you can respond to their request saying you will need measurements (and be specific what measurements you will need). It is also recommended they have someone else take the measurements, not do their own. The length especially is usually off when self-measured.

You don't have to tell them when you expect to get around to making the kilts.

But fit is important and I think you will want their actual measurements.

They should really enjoy these as gifts whether they are expecting them at graduation or later!

[cryerelizabeth]

thanks for the advice I'll send them a letter asking them

[jeremy j starche]

Heh.. I really tried for a way to 'sneak' my dad's measurements when I was getting ready to order his kilt.

Somehow, that 'belly button to the middle of the knee' thing just happens to be a dead giveaway... so I came clean and he co-operated.

[Spartan Tartan]

Just be honest and tell them that ordering kilts made to measure can, in some extreme cases, take over a year. Especially if the particular maker is busy, it could definitely take a long time. So (whether you order them or make them), if you "want them on time" .you need their measurements so you can work with the kilt maker (tee hee, that's you) to get them made properly and on time.

[cryerelizabeth]

I'm righting a letter just flat out asking them what their measurements are.

[piperdbh]

So they're identical, you're not, and you're all triplets? That's pretty dadgone cool!

[cryerelizabeth]

what would the yardage be if they were really skinny, I mean small. Would the kilts need about 5 yards of fabric or less?

[piperdbh]

I am a 36" inch waist, and I have two box-pleated tartan kilts that each uses +- 4 yards, so your sisters' kilts, depending on the tartan/design and how deep the pleats are could use less than 4 yards each, especially if they're skinny-minnies. When you get Barb's book you'll be able to figure the yardage needed very accurately.

[tripleblessed]

I'd send them a letter saying that you mentioned them in a post on a forum you participate in (no mention of kilts) and people were surprised that there is any difference in triplets, and you just kind of blew it off and glossed over it, but later got to wondering how different the three of you actually are. And are they closer to each other's size than they are to yours. It could work, in your own words. Or that you saw an online post on proportion in human anatomy, and it said from the floor to the middle of your knee, from the middle of the knee to the navel, and from the navel to the tip of the nose are the same measurement (they're close for many), but it didn't seem that way for you, and you were wondering with their being identical it might be closer in them. You can make it work. Or you can just ask. Like you said. Honesty is still often the best policy.