Tailor advice

[War dog]

Last January I attended Showcase Scotland, a five day meeting of Artistic Directors at Celtic Connections in Glasgow. While there, I achieved a longtime goal and bought a grey Braemar jacket and vest, along with a Hebridean Granite 16 oz, 8 yard kilt.

All was well until I started a life change in diet and began attending Crossfit. So far I have lost 30 pounds and plan to lose an additional 20 pounds. Those of you who are clever will have deduced the problem. Sometimes timing sucks. Why couldn't I have lost the weight and then bought the kilt and jacket? Hindsight is indeed 20/20.

MacLeod's Scottish Shop in Stratford, Ontario say that they can move the buckles on the kilt but they don't do jacket alterations. The sales lady recommended someone called Soura to alter the jacket. Has anyone here had any work done by this person?

Failing that, can anyone recommend anyone in the Kitchener, Toronto area?

A couple of more questions:

Has anyone had jacket taken in? We're you satisfied with the results? Would I likely be able to have this done for under $150? I would be going from. 52L to a 48L or 46L.

I have read that it is better to sell the large jacket and buy a smaller size but I am loath to do this and, if it is possible to do the alterations, I would rather take that route.

Thanks for any advice

[WillowEstate]

Congratulations on the weight loss and good luck with the next 20!

Not sure about the jacket but I would expect any quality bespoke tailor would be able to give you advice. I'd start there.

As for the kilt, you may need a little more than just moving the buckles to accommodate a 6 inch size reduction, maybe apron reductions, particularly the inner apron if it has the through the kilt belt, although I suppose you could just abandon the left hand belt and to maintain the symmetry on the top apron. Likely our esteemed kiltmakers here would be able to advise.

Good luck!

[Nathan]

This guy has done some good work for me and his prices are reasonable. Also, he's right around the corner from a kilt shop.

http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Ontari...r/2178915.html

[Father Bill]

If you're using MacLeod's in Stratford, they work with Lucy from Scottish Imports of Hamilton, 275 Queenston Rd in that city as their kilt adjuster. She does make kilts fully, and... she's pretty good and quick with jacket adjustments. Were it I, I'd make the trip to Hamilton and meet with Lucy in person. Tiny little lady from (I think) Vietnam with skill and willingness that are beyond measure. Call Hamilton first 905-545-4587 to be sure you're going on a day that she's there. I consider her a magician, and yes, I wore a jacket which she tailored to my size for some time.

[piperdbh]

I don't think taking the jacket in is going to work. The jacket will have to be taken apart to whittle it down, and I'm afraid it will always look like a whittled-down jacket. Your best bet is probably to sell it and use the proceeds to fund a new one, made in the correct size.

[plaid preacher]

Hey War Dog, I do believe that I took a jacket in to Sousa for a minor repair. I will try to dig out her card. Her shop is downtown Stratford across from City Hall. She was busy when I dropped my jacket off, since she was altering a lot of clothes for the actors at the Festival for the opening gala. (I think that speaks to her quality). Myself I found her professional and was pleased with the work ... although it was just an adjustment to the arm length.