Alter Kilt to Make It Larger

**jheby** · 28th March 11, 08:51 AM

Hello! I'm new to X Marks the Scot, so my question may already be out there somewhere. I have two kilts that have "shrunk." One probably needs six more inches, the other maybe three. Is it possible to enlarge a kilt so much? Can a reasonably good tailor do it? Should I go back to the original maker? Any suggestions on a good kilt alter-er? Thanks! -- JHEby

**piperdbh** · 28th March 11, 08:59 AM

Go back to the original maker. It might be possible that a pleat could be "let out", which would give you some more room. Then again, it might not be possible. Your kiltmaker can tell you.

**bonnie heather** · 30th March 11, 06:44 PM

Do you have knife pleated woolen kilts?
If there is a generous amount of fabric in the deep pleat, reverse pleat and facings you can probably enlarge the kilt several inches by making the aprons wider.
I've been able to enlarge some kilts up to 13" by opening up the pleats, sewing hidden extensions onto each pleat cut out and then re-stitching the pleats.

**Barb T** · 4th April 11, 04:45 PM

As you might suspect from Bonnie Heather's post, enlarging a kilt (particularly by letting out a pleat and sewing in hidden extensions, as described by Bonnie) is not a cheap proposition. A kiltmaker who knows what he/she is doing sholud charge you _a lot_ for this. It requires taking the kilt nearly entirely apart and essentially remaking the entire kilt except for the original pleating. You might seriously consider selling the kilts that you have and having new ones made. You'll wind up with kilts that fit well, and you won't have spent hundreds of dollars for kilts that don't really fit the way they are supposed to!

**jheby** · 5th April 11, 05:51 AM

Thanks to all for the helpful replies. No doubt such alterations are detailed, time consuming, and not without cost. But the laborer is certainly worth their wage. Bottom line, of course, it wouldn't hurt to work at shrinking myself to get back into the kilts! Thanks again!