putting it on improperly

[OC Richard]

Right, the most expensive items for a startup Pipe Band are the kilts and the drums. (Pipers provide their own pipes, except with some youth bands.)

Established bands which have been wearing the same tartan for many years generally have kilts in a wide range of sizes and can fit everybody. (Bands can wear the same tartan for a half-century or more, due to the tremendous expense of changing.)

Old band kilts have had their buckles moved many times over the decades, and sometimes hemmed for shorter members, and later un-hemmed, and so forth.

[jsrnephdoc]

Right, the most expensive items for a startup Pipe Band are the kilts and the drums. (Pipers provide their own pipes, except with some youth bands.)

Established bands which have been wearing the same tartan for many years generally have kilts in a wide range of sizes and can fit everybody. (Bands can wear the same tartan for a half-century or more, due to the tremendous expense of changing.)

Old band kilts have had their buckles moved many times over the decades, and sometimes hemmed for shorter members, and later un-hemmed, and so forth.

While Grade 5 and 4 bands likely are smaller than at least the Grade 3 units, limiting those "passing the kilt" expenses, your post made me wonder whether the typical band has a seamstress "on retainer," (or at least a favorite they use repetitively).

In Bozeman, I used a woman who made costumes for the local ballet company from SCRATCH). When my weight loss (Ozempic, and necessary for my health) meant I needed to have the straps moved on my Lunar kilt, Barb Tewksbury sent me detailed instructions on just HOW she should move them, for which she was grateful. I provided her a copy of Barb's book, but I rarely saw anyone else kilted in Bozeman (the only games I know of in Montana are in Hamilton.

But, back to the example of the ill-fitting kit that started this thread, there are three other elements in his dress that suggests the band is truly dealing with a limited budget:

1. Although the "protagonist" is wearing his kilt too low, it's still too small, yet his sporran chain is too LONG!
2. His waistcoat is too SHORT
3. His kilt is pleated differently from his mate's

I don't remember what band they represent. If they're local to Las Vegas, perhaps I need to find out who actually DOES those alterations, for future reference.

[YOJiMBO20]

But, back to the example of the ill-fitting kit that started this thread, there are three other elements in his dress that suggests the band is truly dealing with a limited budget:

1. Although the "protagonist" is wearing his kilt too low, it's still too small, yet his sporran chain is too LONG!
2. His waistcoat is too SHORT
3. His kilt is pleated differently from his mate's

I don't remember what band they represent. If they're local to Las Vegas, perhaps I need to find out who actually DOES those alterations, for future reference.

I’ll address these in reverse order:
3. His kilt is also pleated to the stripe. All the kilts in the band are. I don’t know where you’re seeing that his is to the sett, but it’s pleated to the yellow stripe like all of our kilts. We used to work with a local kiltmaker, but for various reasons that I’m not entirely privy to, we have since parted ways.
2. He was probably issued his waistcoat when he first joined the band, shortly after we switched from wearing Prince Charlies to waistcoats. We had less supply on hand and I’m guessing he hasn’t bothered to change out to a different one.
1. We had to buy our own sporran chains. He probably did like I did and bought a cheapo Pakistani chain. I adjusted mine to have the sporran sit better, but it might not have been of any importance to him. Especially since he usually puts his uniform on only when needed and takes it off once we’re done.