Resizing a UK - dropping a size.

[cnovack]

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to have a Utilikilt brought down a size?

I apparently have dropped some poundage and my UK is too big now. It is gapping when the belt is buckled. There is a main seam that runs down the back where the pleats meet and it LOOKS like it would be relatively simple. But then again the seam does not run all the way up through the waist band so I am not sure.

This is not something I am looking at doing myself but would seek out a tailor.

Just curious if anyone has had a UK resized, in particular bringing it down a size.

Thanks!

[ccga3359]

I resize all of my loose fitting kilts by going to kilt nights. Beer & wings do help.

[The Wizard of BC]

I have re-sized about 20 UK's. It's not that difficult but I would suggest you seek out a tailor to attempt it.
If I tell you that the first step is to remove the waistband and beltloops, will that give you an idea that this is not a job for someone who has no experience altering clothing.

[cnovack]

Oh, trust me - I had no plans to attempt this meself. That would be a disaster. I am definitely looking at a tailor. I was just wonderin if others had done so and what their experiences were.

Thanks for the input.

[The Wizard of BC]

Depending on how much the thing needs to be taken in you can re-taper the Fell. If it needs a lot of size taken in you may need to remove a pleat.

If your waistband has snaps on it those will need to be cut off and replaced with new.

The easiest way to determine how much needs to be taken in, put on the thing without doing up any snaps and allow the front apron to overlap the till it fits well. Mark the new position of the apron with a piece of chalk. Make marks at the waistband and hip line.
Then measure from your chalk marks back to the edge of the under apron.


The first step is to remove the waistband and beltloops.
Then, if re-tapering, determine how much to reduce each pleat by measuring the distance of the pleats between the aprons and dividing by the number of pleats.
Then remove any rear pockets as necessary.
Un-stitch each pleat from the hip line to the waist line leaving the last few stitches at the hip.
Re-stitch each pleat to the new width.
Re-fasten the rear pockets.
Sew the beltloops and waistband back on cutting off any excess.

voila!


(better yet, sell the thing and buy a kilt that fits. I allow about 6-8 hours of labor to do this and the cost is usually prohibitive. But many people I see have just come from the Seattle store and this is their first MUG. They feel the cost of alterations added to what they have just spent is still worth the excitement.)