Kilt Alterations

**Sir Robert** · 26th September 05, 11:39 AM

I just got in my new Mercy black polyester kilt in XXL which is about a 42 inch waist. It is just a tad too big so based on the "Just move the buckles" I taylored it down just a bit(2.5 inches). It was within the limits of what needle and thread could do, but in about two hours, I had a hand taylored kilt.

I bet that kilts could be made a little larger with matching tartan material as well.

I see me trying my hand at making a kilt from scratch at some point in the future as I want some things that do not exist (yet).

**Alan H** · 26th September 05, 05:20 PM

Well, my first attempt seems to have worked out OK, all things considered. I'll know more after a couple of washings and a night soaking in the tub with Downy.

I'd say, go for it. get some budget tartan or cotton/polyester twill and take a shot at it. If I were doing my first one over again, I wouldn't use canvas, I'd use a lighter material.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 26th September 05, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Well, my first attempt seems to have worked out OK, all things considered. I'll know more after a couple of washings and a night soaking in the tub with Downy.

I'd say, go for it. get some budget tartan or cotton/polyester twill and take a shot at it. If I were doing my first one over again, I wouldn't use canvas, I'd use a lighter material.

Alan, thanks for keeping us updated. My wife is actually taking a sewing course right now, and I have sewn quite a bit myself (And enjoy it!) in the past. I am thinking about hitting up the local fabric store now that I have Barb's book and giving it a whirl. I am thinking about a lighter, lounge at home fabric.

RJI

**Ruanaidh** · 26th September 05, 11:26 PM

Does anyone know a good way to shorten a kilt? I have a old kilt that I found in a used clothing store that is about 1 inch too long. The bottom is the selvedge end of the cloth and I don't want to cut it and I'm afraid a hem will interfer with how the pleats hang. Any suggestions? Thanks

**Sir Robert** · 27th September 05, 02:39 AM

The answer is to lower the top, I would go to a taylor it should cost about $60 bucks.

I would just wear it 1 inch higher on my waist.

**airforce_sxs** · 10th November 05, 09:09 PM

you said yo got a mercy kilt? Do you like it? I am looking at one on the net and it looks to be a well made kilt.

**Barb T.** · 11th November 05, 06:36 AM

Shortening a kilt is easy, and I agree that you can't just cut it off. But, it's also not just a matter of turning it up and stitching a hem, as you would do with a skirt. Here are the instructions in a nutshell:

Undo the bottom of the apron edge (up about 8-10") - that's all the stitching that holds the facing and fringe.

Ditto for the underapron edge.

Press the bottom couple inches of the kilt really well with a damp press cloth in order to get rid of the old creases.

Turn up the kilt an even amount everywhere _except_ that the point of the deep pleat is turned up an extra 3/8" tapering to the regular hem length on either side of the pleat (to keep the point from hanging down), and the underapron edge is turned up an extra 3/4-1" tapering to the hem depth about 9" from the edge of the underapron (to keep the underapron edge from sagging below the bottom of the kilt). Baste and stitch (preferably using a tailor's tack, but a regular hem stitch will do if you don't know how).

Re-stitch the apron and underapron edges.

When you're done, baste the pleats together, and press.

voila, you're done.

B

**Southern Breeze** · 11th November 05, 11:46 AM

Its a good idea to pin your edges up.Then put your kilt on and check that you got the length correct.If its right,then do the final stiching.I've shortned all my Stillwaters and on the first one I had to make a few changes.If you goof,it's easier to fix this way.