Kilt Alterations?

[Aramp]

Just wondering, can tailors who alter pants do the same with kilts? I ordered an SWK econo and just got it in today (it's quite nice, I must say), but evidently I've lost a noteable bit of weight since then (or more likely I just measured poorly). The little info sheet that came with it said something about being able to tighten it with a blind hem stitch or something, and I only need it down a couple inches.

It seems to me the buckles on the kilt could just be moved a bit further out and it'd fine, but then I have no idea what that would do to the rest of it.

[Kilted KT]

Just wondering, can tailors who alter pants do the same with kilts? I ordered an SWK econo and just got it in today (it's quite nice, I must say), but evidently I've lost a noteable bit of weight since then (or more likely I just measured poorly). The little info sheet that came with it said something about being able to tighten it with a blind hem stitch or something, and I only need it down a couple inches.

It seems to me the buckles on the kilt could just be moved a bit further out and it'd fine, but then I have no idea what that would do to the rest of it.

I would be EXTREMELY cautions bring even the worst kilt to a normal tailor to be altered. Consider how far a few between good kiltmakers are. There might be one or two in any given STATE here in the US ( on average).

I think you would be better off getting advice here and doing it yourself or sending it to one of the kiltmakers here. That way you won't get a tartan blanket back when you send a kilt in.

[turpin]

When I ordered mine I asked Jerry about this. He said moving the buckles is the answer for even up to 2 inches or so, without materially affecting the look. More than that and you'd start getting the apron pleat too far forward, it seems. You've moved in the better direction, however, not only for health but because it is easier to mak a too-large kilt smaller than the other way around.

You couldalso try seeling it on the for sale forum if it seems just too big.

[sirdaniel1975]

Just wondering, can tailors who alter pants do the same with kilts? I ordered an SWK econo and just got it in today (it's quite nice, I must say), but evidently I've lost a noteable bit of weight since then (or more likely I just measured poorly). The little info sheet that came with it said something about being able to tighten it with a blind hem stitch or something, and I only need it down a couple inches.

It seems to me the buckles on the kilt could just be moved a bit further out and it'd fine, but then I have no idea what that would do to the rest of it.

Matthew Newsome does kilt alterations. And even if he doesn't need to alter it and you can do it yourself, he can answer loads of questions correctly. He's the only kilt maker that I'm aware of that actually advertises his alteration prices. Plus I saw him in the middle of altering a kilt the other day. In my opinion, if you end up only having to move your buckles, you can probably do it yourself.

As the other gentlemen said here, don't go to a trouser tailor. You just don't know what the result will be.

[bubba]

You move the buckle on the right side and the strap on the under apron. That's a simple job that any seamstress can do easily. The blind stitch is if you need to shorten it, again, any seamstress can do that easily. Modifications to the pleats, however, are a different matter. It sounds like all you need to do is determine how far the buckle and strap need to be moved. I wouldn't hesitate to let a tailor or seamstress move them, I had a seamstress do that on one kilt I own.

[Rex_Tremende]

I took my Douglas Modern heavyweight kilt to my tailor, who does men's and women's clothing, to have the outside buckles and inside strap moved back so as to tighten the waist. While this resulted in a better fitting kilt, I was not entirely happy with the handiwork on the buckles, finding the stitching a little on the crude side. The Mr. tailor, whose name is on the awning, was away when I picked up the kilt, so I asked the Mrs. about it. She spoke with the seamstress, who claimed that the original stitching was done by machine (it was not) and from underneath (is possible), and that they neither had a machine to stitch through all the material, or were instructed to undo the lining. My impression is that the seamstress was just not as skillful with the needle as the original kiltmaker.

The lesson from this is that in your conversation with your tailor, be sure and include a quality requirement. Show him or her the buckle that is not being moved (the one on the left hip), and demand that the others look as good as that one when they are finished.

In the end, the tabs that hold the buckles are hidden by the strap, so no one can see them, but there's something about accepting less than the best that disturbs me. Unfortunately, since I didn't state my requirements up front, it is not fair for me to say they didn't do the job I asked of them.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[Aramp]

Well, I just need between 1.5 and 2 inches smaller on the waist - at the moment if I buckle it up to the tightest holes, it'll sit on me properly as long as I don't do anything more than shuffle at a very measured pace, so it doesn't need to go too much smaller.

So the SWK has two buckles on the right, of which one is on the waistband, and one on the left, where a strap goes from the underapron through the waistband and then through the buckle. The straps on the right are behind the front flap of the apron. The one stap and buckle on the left I think can't really be moved due to the way the strap goes through the waistband.

I'm trying to picture this, but my 3D conceptualisation isn't all that hot. Assuming I was wearing the kilt, then I think the straps on the right would need to be moved towards the left, so when I pulled the straps through the buckles it would be tighter. I can't really picture what to do with the buckles, though.

And, as much as it would be handy for me to know how to wield a sewing machine, I have absolutely no idea how, and absolutely no experience, so I've been asking around for trusted tailors and have gotten a few down. It's just that I don't know if any of them would have done this before, so I'd like some clear instructions, or else it may a case of the puzzled leading the confounded.

[bubba]

The strap on the under apron gets moved, the one on the left, since moving that buckle doesn't do anything. The two buckles on the right are moved since you really can't move those straps. I've found that any seamstress that works on formals or wedding gowns will do a superb job. All you need to do is give her the exact amount the strap and buckles need to be moved. Don't have a dry cleaner do the job even though they do some of this kind of work.

[SingleBarrelBourbon]

I have the same problem. The SWK Nightstalker I ordered is 1.5 to 2 inches too large in the waist. My lovely wife is a seamstress and specializes in bridals. She will be making the needed alteration this week (customers come first). If you can wait 2 or 3 days, I can let you know how that comes out.

[mrpharr]

I lost about 20lbs and had to have my buckles moved back an inch or so and it seemed to do the trick. the buckles and straps were hand stiched in the first place so a seamstress i know said it made it alot easier and she was able to hand stich them back.
steve