Attn: UK'ers, can a Utilikilt be size adjusted?

**kilttrip** · 9th August 14, 10:22 PM

I bought a new Utilikilt Survivor not long ago, but have since lost some weight - good news/bad news. Do you have any tricks or advice on how to adjust the size accordingly?

**Steve Ashton** · 9th August 14, 10:57 PM

Unfortunately with the snaps that a UK uses as closure there is little that can be done to alter their size.

The way a UK is made means you must make any alterations to the back of the kilt. You would need to remove the waistband, un-stitch the pleats and alter the width of each pleat. This would also mean that you would need to take out the edge stitching of the pleats you alter.

After figuring out the new pleat width you must re-edge stitch the pleats, re-sew the Fell area, and re-install the waistband. (replacing any snaps you had to cut in the waistband)

Not a job for the faint of heart or for a novice at sewing.

**CDNSushi** · 9th August 14, 11:41 PM

As Steve just said... Good luck moving the snaps. I got the same problem. Lost weight and now I have a completely useless UK that's not wearable. Best bet is to sell/trade/barter it. My (temporary) solution was to buy a cheap replacement (not a brand-name Utilikilt) until such time as I can afford to have something good and quality made by Freedom or another co. that makes them. Don't think I'll be buying another authentic UK though. Too many little annoyances with it -- like the way the pleats curl upward and the narrowness of the front apron.

**Pleater** · 10th August 14, 06:20 AM

Having looked at a Utilikilt for someone with a similar problem, they are not made in such a way as to make it an easy job to alter them - when I started to make kilts for myself I did not do any 'tailoring' as I was losing weight and wanted to make altering them easy, so I basically did the opposite to all the features of a Utilikilt.

If you find the kilt is a little tighter after washing you could use some webbing or other strip which is rigid, and sew it around the waistband after washing, perhaps even easing it in an inch or so more as you go. You can, however, only do so much before the fabric below the waistband puffs out and looks wrong.

I'd agree that the easiest option would be to hunt for a smaller size and sell the one you have.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Riverkilt** · 10th August 14, 09:23 AM

Utilikilts hold their value for resale - reasonable price for being used. My "problem" was the opposite. So I sold the Utilikilts I outgrew and invested the proceeds in larger Utilikilts. Worked for me.

UK used to make a leather kilt with corset adjustments on each side that was adjustable about 3" in waist size.

Only adjustment for a survival is to leave the top snaps on the waistband unsnapped and be sure the belt is tight and cover the waist with your top garment. For getting smaller can only tighten the belt.

**ratspike** · 10th August 14, 10:59 AM

Ron is dead on. If you haven't lost a huge amount of weight just leave the snaps undone and use a belt to close the waist. I'm guessing you'll have an inch or two of room to go smaller before the front apron overlaps the right cargo pocket. The right inside pocket might get a little difficult to access too.

**kilttrip** · 10th August 14, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Utilikilts hold their value for resale - reasonable price for being used. My "problem" was the opposite. So I sold the Utilikilts I outgrew and invested the proceeds in larger Utilikilts. Worked for me.

UK used to make a leather kilt with corset adjustments on each side that was adjustable about 3" in waist size.

Only adjustment for a survival is to leave the top snaps on the waistband unsnapped and be sure the belt is tight and cover the waist with your top garment. For getting smaller can only tighten the belt.

Thanks Ron, and to all that replied. I guess the temporary solution would be to tighten the belt, and ultimately trade or sell.
Thanks again to all.

**RockyR** · 11th August 14, 07:40 AM

How about going to Home Depot and buying a "snap kit" with the tool to put snaps on (a $15 fix). FORGET adding snaps for the V shaped snaps in the front... just concentrate on the 2 at the top of the waistband. Let the REST of the snaps hang free (they won't line up, so don't snap them).

Use the BACK SNAP (the "male" halves) ONLY and put them through the waistband (you'll have to cut a VERY small hole in the waistband) at the appropriate spot. You'll only need 2... 1 for the right side of the apron and 1 for the left side.

Add JUST those 2 back ("male") halves to the waistband at the correct spot and your kilt will fit again! Just make sure that the size snap that you buy is the same size as the "female" end that's on the UK. They SHOULD be good, but do a dry fit before poking holes in the kilt and putting them on permanently.