I've lost weight~ can the kilt be altered?

[Joseph McLaren]

Since Christmas I've lost a lot of weight, and I'm hoping to lose a bit more by the end of 2010. I started at a bit over 16st, I'm 13st now and aiming for 11st.

Unfortunately, I've reached and breached the limit of my kilt straps, and in any case the apron extends too far round and looks all wrong, so I can't wear it right now.

When I do reach my target weight, and stay there for a bit, I'll be looking for a solution.

Can up to 9 or 10 inches be taken off a kilt convincingly, or do I need a new one?

The kilt's an 8 yard tank from Stewart Christie in Edinburgh~ not cheap. I thought I'd consult the wisdom of the rabble before getting quotes from kiltmakers.

[Pleater]

If your kilt is fully tailored in the fell, with cut out pleats, lining and reinforcement, it will probably take as long, or longer, to dissasemble and make smaller as to make a whole new kilt.

Where a kilt looks wrong when wrapped around with the excess pleats under the apron, the advice usually is to sell and buy another, possibly from someone who has had a kilt shrink whilst in the wardrobe, a common phenomenon it seems.

The only exceptions are where the kilt has some strong sentimental value, or is an unusual tartan which would be difficult/expensive/impossible to find.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Joseph McLaren]

Thanks Anne, I suspected as much. Ah well, I'd sooner have the expense than the excess weight! Many thanks for your input.

[Paul Henry]

I completely agree with Anne, it is sometimes harder and slower to re size a kilt rather than re making one, but I'm not so far away from you and I'd be happy to have a look at it for you, and discuss options if you liked.
PM me if you would like to talk further, I'd be happy to help.

[ozone]

I must be in opposite world, having been away from the discussion board for a while....People have problems with kilts getting too big?!?!?!

PS: congrats on the weight loss, as someone who is in the medical field, I can tell you that you are doing the right thing for many, many, many reasons.

PPS: Reward yourself with a new kilt!

[artificer]

Barb T. had an interesting thread on moving buckles to resize (downward) a kilt by 10"+. It can be found HERE, and is rather an eye opener.

[Barb T]

And in many ways, moving the buckles is a better solution than rebuilding the kilt that much. A kilt alteration will change the size of the apron and underapron, but not the pleats, and removing 5" on each side of the apron would make the pleats come around the front of the kilt way too far. The only other choice is to completely rebuild the kilt and take out pleats. If you have someone who can do a competent job for free, this is an option. But most kiltmakers would (or should!) charge nearly as much for such an alteration as they would for the labor of making a brand new kilt. I would move the buckles for now, and, if you maintain the weight loss, sell the kilt and get a new one made.

[Joseph McLaren]

Thanks everyone, for all this great advice. I think I'll start saving for kilt no. 2!