I used to do running repairs for amateur dramatics, not something for the faint hearted. Compromise is required, to have something to wear on the night. At least you still have time.

So 15 cm - 6 inches - in total too large - I never did go metric. That is the waist, when fastened as when worn, is 6 inches too large.

To be done by Friday!!

OK - Don't panic - what I would do is remove the waistband from the apron and under apron, then make each one smaller by 6 inches and increase the size of the under apron pleats to take up that amount.

You might have to reshape the edge of the apron on the left side, - first smooth it out to flat and then start over. (You probably knew that, just covering all the bases.)

Then check that the deeper under pleat lies correctly. By lifting or lowering the new inside fold a little higher or lower at the waist you draw in or push out the outer edge. I have to raise the fold up to 1/2 an inch on my kilts - but I have child bearing hips. You have a perfectionist, so you might need to use the trick to achieve perfection. Join the pleat to the waist gradually reducing the lifting or lowering to nothing at the outer edge of the apron.

Once you have that sorted you can refix the waist band - I would not cut off the extra waistband but fold it inside itself for possible use at a later date, expansion, repair - whatever.

It is not the ideal solution - but it is not a tartan fabric so the placing of the waistband and pattern is not relevant.

It will mean that the pleats are forming a larger percentage of the waist circumference than for a traditional kilt - but the fashion is for narrower aprons on non tartan kilts, and it is the fastest way to sort out the problem.

An alternative, though more of a fudge, is to have the apron cover some of the pleats on the right side, which - probably is only a bit less work, and if the narrow apron is acceptable, in the pinch you are in - no - I think the first option is going to be the most satisfactory in the long run. It might be possible to return the kilt for reworking at some time if all the fabric is still there.

If you really want to live dangerously, remove the entire waistband, and take out some of the pleats, remaking the seam, enlarge the under apron pleats each side to narrow the apron and under apron, and reattach the waistband. you could then retain the proportions of pleats to apron width at the waistband. The trick would be to perfectly match the sewing of the pleat where you joint the two halves.

I am really wickedly pleased that I don't have this problem to sort out, and wish you good luck with it.


Baroness Anne the mirthful of Fritterton on the Heath