Kilt strap questions

**The Barry** · 23rd February 08, 02:46 PM

Ok, so I went out and ordered a 16oz, 6 yard, casual wool kilt. It isn't a 9 yard masterpiece, but I want to wear it to the pub and on St. Patrick's day, Tartan day, etc... Not exactly looking to get a pint of ale spilled on a high end formal kilt.

That being said, I got it, tried it on, and it looks great! One problem: it came with thin, cheap leather straps. The buckles are also held on by these thin straps, and they don't look very well. I want to replace them. Here's my question, when I order straps and buckles, are they going to send me the straps that hold the buckle onto the kilt as well? I haven't been in a pipe band in awhile, and I'm trying to remember if the buckle on the nicer kilt that I had as part of my uniform was held to the kilt via a strap or not?

Are buckles normally mounted on a strap, or are they affixed directly to the kilt itself? Such a trivial detail, but for the life of me, I can't remember how my uniform kilt was constructed.

Help! I'm a newbie!

Oh, and if you're in/near Seattle, we need to start a regularly occurring kilt night!

**slohairt** · 23rd February 08, 02:53 PM

1 1/4" buckles are usually sold as a set: 1 strap + 1 buckle. The buckle itself is then attached to the kilt by sewn-on tartan tab.

Here's a good source for buckles and strap sets:

http://www.highlandxpress.com/patterns.html#bs

**The Barry** · 23rd February 08, 02:55 PM

Thank you.. I assume then, that my buckles, being attached by leather straps is a bit anomalous? I'm googling like mad, and I'm seeing some strap sets that appear to have the same configuration that I have. Thanks for the help, I guess that these issues are what saturday afternoons are for... Oh, maybe I should be doing homework.. Nah, sunday..

**ChattanCat** · 23rd February 08, 03:01 PM

maybe you can rip a strip from the underapron. you need a tube that is 1 1/4" wide by about 4" long. The width of material would be about 1 1/4" time 3 or 3 3/4" but a little less.

**slohairt** · 23rd February 08, 03:07 PM

The buckle tabs don't have to be tartan. On military kilts, the buckle tab is often solid black material. In any case, it doesn't matter because the strap will cover the tab when worn. So if you can't spare the extra tartan material (culled from some discreet area of the kilt), don't worry about it. Personally, I would just make them out of black material rather rip fabric from the under apron.

**The Barry** · 23rd February 08, 03:13 PM

There's a thought.. I didn't think about that.. I assume that the material should be fairly heavy and sturdy.. I'll do that.. So I (not really me, the alteration place down the street) take some nice heavy material, fold under the edges, run it through the buckle, tuck it between the layers of the kilt, and sew it down?

So the material will end up being doubled, yes?

Any suggestions for type of material?

Do I have to sew it a certain way as to not make stitches show?

BTW, you guys rock at this game.

**ChattanCat** · 23rd February 08, 04:08 PM

If the material is a twill, like a tartan, you can fold, fold and put it thru the buckle. The tine (sp?) can then be pushed thru the fabric. That way you don't rip the material and start a tear. The tab that went thru the buckle is folded underneath the tab that is sticking out of the buckle. You then use a blind stitch from the front side all the way around the tab. Use good thread, carpet thread, and start the thread stitching along the middle of the buckle.

**Robert Lamb** · 23rd February 08, 04:42 PM

http://www.highlandxpress.com/index.html
I have purchased belt/buckle sets from these people and the are better than most of the belt/strapes that come on some of the ready made kilts we buy.
I use the on the kilts I make and they work very well.
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

**Kiltman** · 23rd February 08, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by The Barry

Thank you.. I assume then, that my buckles, being attached by leather straps is a bit anomalous? I'm googling like mad, and I'm seeing some strap sets that appear to have the same configuration that I have. Thanks for the help, I guess that these issues are what saturday afternoons are for... Oh, maybe I should be doing homework.. Nah, sunday..

I'm not sure that your leather straps are anomalous, they are not the current norm. I started putting leather straps on the kilts I make for myself about three years ago. My wife's kilted skirt from Scotland also has leather straps. Whatever works, works.