Sporran Loops

[Chef]

Funny how opinions differ. I was always taught that the loops were for the sporran not the belt and for my liking I think it works the best on a traditional kilt that way. I like the fact that the loops help keep the sporran in place. I can still move it if I like but I don't need to reposition repeatedly. Since the belt is purely decorative I am glad to remove it easily. If I am driving much of a distance I will usually remove the belt and put it back on when I arrive. Of course I don't wear a belt at all if I am wearing a waistcoat so frequently I am not worried about the belt at all.

[Cinnabar]

Seeing as how this topic was triggered by my pic, I guess I should chime in. The kilt in question is a casual kilt that only goes up to my pant's waist. When I sit down in these kilts I often find that the belt hikes up above my kilt, which annoyes me. So I started putting my belts through the loops when I wear these kilts. However, on my more traditional kilts I typically don't put anything through the loops. Just my 2 cents.

[Pleater]

As with all things, I think it depends on several factors - if made from a minimal set of measurements and no fitting a kilt made at a distance will always have the possibility of being not quite the right shape.

For some that would mean the pleats and belt getting into all out warfare and both getting pulled out of shape, and with others exactly the same combination sitting perfectly.

I make my own kilts and the design has evolved over time.

I have settled on a centre back inverted pleat, with the pleats mirror imaged each side - so the left side has pleats facing the conventional (male) way and the right side the reverse.

I only sew the peats into a waist band and just press in the suppresion or narrowing from hip to waist.

I do not fasten it with buckles, but use a belt to hold it up and in place.

I found that with belt loops each side of the centre back the inverted box pleat sagged downwards and opened out, and that it was difficult to sew on belt loops neatly through the rather undefined multiple layers of cloth.

So I now put one belt loop centre back, two at each end of the pleats right at the edge of the aprons, and one on the outer edge of the apron. Those seem to be the only ones required - even with a heavy kilt as long as the belt lies below the edge of the waist band - or binding might be a better term as it is only half an inch at the most.

I find that a belt loop needs to be long enough for the kilt to lie flat whilst the loop goes over and around the belt, and to be sewn on at points slightly further apart than might seem necessary, or they will wear quickly. Just because a belt can be got through the loops doesn't make it a good one to use.

[Kilted Stuart]

Remember that this thread and discussion started when someone mentioned that the kilt is sort of hanging funny at the back.

This kilt is made of olive green duckcloth (stiff and thick) that need some time to break in. The material will form and move better with age and wear.

This kilt was made a little big as per customer request. The kilt will probably hang better when the winter weight gets put on. A custom garment always fits better when it is filled out as per measurments.

Thus the belt and sporran in or out of the loops may just be personal preference and decoration, and may not adversly affect the hang of the kilt in the long run.

Fun to see how everyone wears there's anyway,

Kilted Stuart

[Tartan Hiker]

I was pondering this just today...glad to see that this thread is still active.

So kilts don't have loops that would just accommodate a sporran strap...they have gigantic loops so that when the kilt belt is worn over the upper part of the loops enough of the bottom of the loops protrude beneath the belt so that the sporran strap can be fed through this free bit.

We see "standard" kilt belts in 2.5", 3", even 4" widths.

So perhaps did the "standard" kit belt become so wide because folks, seeing these huge loops and not understanding their true function, started wearing muckle belts that were proportionate to the loops?

Just a thought....

By the way, I usually feed my belt through the loop (on my trad kilts that have loops) and never put the sporran straps in the loops. Wore my heavy BW kilt, which has no loops, all day today....in and out of the truck, working in the yard, on and off bar stools at the pub this evening, and only once had to correct a slipped belt.

Bill