Another Stilwater Story

[oldfool]

My first kilt was a Stillwater kilt. Made in Pakistan and served up by Jerry. I ordered an economy Blackwatch and it arrived two days later. I was impressed. I loved the material and the quality was very good. Unfortunately I had started a weight loss program and had my numbers all mixed up so it was 4 inches too big. However it did make me feel skinny. Jerry of course took care of that mistake when I sent it back and he refunded my money immediately. I then decided to order a Thrifty mainly because there is a lot of latitude in waist size with the Velcro and it was cheap. Since I was going to in grow it (opposite of out grow it) that seemed like a good idea. It seemed to instantly arrived. What is this? customer service? I'm not used to this.

I had bought a full length mirror when I started this and if you are really serious about weight loss I highly recommend it. I had looked at the pictures of the kilted men on the Internet and found that they look just like me, overweight and old. Some are overweight and young and what a pity. I just have better legs. I picked the best and decided I want to look at least that good.

Well, lo and behold I went from 47 inches to 43 inches quickly and the Thrifty I ordered fit. I sew so it will work for another couple of inches. Since I am built like a fireplug waist and hip measurement are the same. The problem now is the length. All Stillwaters are 24Inches long. I am 5 foot six inches and getting shorter in my old age I would have to wear it around my tits for it be the right length. For a Stillwater I need a length of 19 inches to 19.5 inches so out came the needle and thread. I would have at that time happily paid $20.00 to have had it done before I received it but now I would not. It was just too easy.

For anyone with the manual dexterity of a chimp just lay the SWK out, measure from the the bottom twice what you want to turn up. Put your iron on the highest setting for man made fabric with steam on. You want it hot but not too hot. This stuff is basically plastic and does not scorch it melts. Iron out the pleats. Carefully measuring turn up the hem and and pin. Whatever you do don't cut it. The marks where the old pleat was will still show so try to stay with that. Once you have it like you want it press it in. Go to the the Internet and learn what a blind hem stitch is. A word about blind hem stitches; if you decide to continue by hand then make sure the large stitch is on the inside and the stitch on the side that shows is vertical and extremely small. Knot the thread every couple of inches.

When you get to the end of the stitching you will find that it didn't work out as you planned so just make a gather to take care of the extra material. It will be small. Steam press the pleats back in. No one will ever know. If fact, unless you tell only the Kilt police will ever know this is the cheapest kilt you can buy. It's easy, boys and girls, just do it.

For me the extra material at the hem makes this very economical kilt hang very well.


Old Fool
www.oldfool.com
Peasant

[beowulf67]

Very informative post.
Sadly, chimps regularly make fun of my lack of manual dexterity when it comes to sewing.

[oldfool]

Very informative post.
Sadly, chimps regularly make fun of my lack of manual dexterity when it comes to sewing.

I have to admit that when I sew I bleed.

[Larry124]

Congratulations!

Last summer I lost some weight with diet and exercise -- from a 40” (trouser) waist down to 36” (with a 38” kilt waist).
I hadn’t been a 36 for decades.
Just a few pounds over my Body Mass Index weight.
Unfortunately during the winter (less exercise) I regained two inches.
Now that it’s Spring I’m almost back to 36.

But I’m still old. How do you fix that?

On the other hand, I’d rather grow old than the alternative.

I can make use of SWK Thrifty’s (I own five or them) in medium or large.

I’m six foot tall so 24”’s always work for me. I even use a Celtic Croft Economy that is a length 23” for hot weather.
No chance of that kilt riding down to cover my knees with that kilt for sure.

My sewing limit is Velcro and maybe straps & buckles on a good day.

If it’s lucky to get a pin prick whilst sewing then I must be the luckiest gent around.
Does “through & through” count?

[McMathTX]

I had looked at the pictures of the kilted men on the Internet and found that they look just like me, overweight and old.

Hey, I resemble that remark!
Dean

[McFarkus]

There's a trick about getting old. I've been the same age for quite a while now - somewhere between 40 and death!