A fell question.

[sydnie7]

Do any kiltmakers refrain from cutting the last 2 or 3 pleats on each side, to allow for 'expansion' in the eventuality of letting the kilt out in the future?

I did read on one site of hand-sewn kilts that were specifically left un-cut so they could be unstitched and 're-made'. Has anyone ever really done that?

Appendix C of TAoK discusses building in a "hidden pleat" where you hide extra material for eventual letting-out. That's a more elegant solution than either of the methods described above. "Letting out" only some of the pleats will result in an uneven appearance (i.e. your pleating to sett or stripe will be off). And rebuilding the entire kilt is generally not economically feasible vs. selling it off and buying a new one that fits, as discussed here many times, not to mention living with the discomfort and poor appearance of uncut pleats for all that time!

[Barb T]

Do any kiltmakers refrain from cutting the last 2 or 3 pleats on each side, to allow for 'expansion' in the eventuality of letting the kilt out in the future?

I did read on one site of hand-sewn kilts that were specifically left un-cut so they could be unstitched and 're-made'. Has anyone ever really done that?

A typical kilt alteration involves widening both edges of the apron and underapron, which requires that you have material to do so. Therefore, you don't cut out the very last pleat (the one that is part of the inverted pleat.