Shortening a kilt?

[Dixiecat]

When I was dealing with costumes it was not unusual to find a raw edge where some previous last minute fitting had been done with the aid of a pair of scissors and the edge was becoming a rats' nest of loose threads.

There is a product which is a hot melt glue on both sides of a fairly fragile tape. It is usually one inch wide, but can be cut down into 1/3 inch strips and then a small hem turned up, pressed, and then the tape put in and heated under an iron to make a small neat hem.

If you wanted to remove several inches from the bottom of the kilt and make a speedy single fold hem that would be the way to do it.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I'll have to disagree to this and whatever Arlen refers to as a 'raw edge seal'.

If you ever want the kilt hem to last and to keep it looking good, you should never use the above products.

Raw edges should be enclosed to both prevent raveling and to give a 'finished' look. This can be achieved in several ways:

-overcasting the raw edge, either by hand or machine. I would recommend hand overcasting as machine overcasting (serging) adds bulk. Then hem, but while sewing fold back the raw edge and do your stitching about 3/8" to 1/2" from the overcasted edge.

-hem tape - sew the tape to the right side of the hem, having at least half the tape extending past the edge of the hem. Basically, an overlap join. Then, fold the hem up to the inside at the desired length, press, then hem the hem tape to the kilt

-binding - using a folded hem tape or a double or single fold bias tape, enclose the raw edge inside the bias tape and sew. Then hem stitching through the bias tape.

Of all the above methods, I would choose hem tape of a colour that tones with the kilt. It is very thin, doesn't add bulk and keeps the inside looking neat. You can also use silk, satin or cotton ribbon as hem tape.