Big surprise inside a kilt to be altered

**bonnie heather** · 21st February 12, 09:01 AM

Today I started working on altering a kilt made by a well known tartan mill. When I unstitched the back lining, I was amazed to find there was no back canvas. And no steeking. And no cutouts. And no waist stabilizer. It's a knife pleated 8yard heavy weight kilt, mostly machine sewn. I'm really surprised and wonder why it was made that way.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 21st February 12, 09:03 AM

Thanks for sharing...

I guess it's a matter of Caveat Emptor...

**auld argonian** · 21st February 12, 09:19 AM

I'll tell ya...we're gonna have a lot of forum members looking under their linings after these threads about kilts not made according to the rules.

Best

AA

**pascs** · 21st February 12, 10:02 AM

I get the feeling that there will be many kilts out there where corners have been cut to keep the costs down

**auld argonian** · 21st February 12, 10:03 AM

I think we should call for a show of hands...how many people are peeking under their linings?

Best

AA

**jhockin** · 21st February 12, 10:19 AM

I'm wondering if it is one of the "casual" kilts, since you say it is machine sewn? I found no description, on their website, of the kilt-making process. Since there are no cut-outs, of the fabric across he fell, perhaps there would be less "need" for the hair canvas, to support the material? Sounds like the missing stuff is all part of 'cutting costs'. I also wonder how many other sellers of "casual kilts" make theirs the same way?

**Barb T** · 21st February 12, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by bonnie heather

I'm really surprised and wonder why it was made that way.

Cost, obviously. Machine stitching and leaving out the internal construction that costs $$ to do in terms of labor and materials is the obvious way to reduce the cost of a kilt.

Before anyone bashes on House of Edgar, though, it would be worth at least considering that we don't know how this kilt was advertised. As long as a customer is aware of what he is purchasing, a kilt that is machine sewn and missing the traditional internal construction is a reasonable lower cost option for someone who wants to buy a kilt.

At any rate, this is why I made the decision years ago not to do alterations on kilts that I haven't made myself - I never know what I might find inside.

**thecompaqguy** · 21st February 12, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

I think we should call for a show of hands...how many people are peeking under their linings?

Well I never

I try to keep my knees together

Checked the linings of my kilts, they're all fine, even the cheaper PV ones

**madmacs** · 21st February 12, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

I think we should call for a show of hands...how many people are peeking under their linings?

Best

AA

Not me! But then Bonnie made it so if it's wrong I think I have a problem...

**Tobus** · 21st February 12, 11:17 AM

Today I started working on altering a kilt made by a well known tartan mill.

Out of curiosity, why was it sent to you for alteration? Was it needing to be taken in to a smaller waist size? I'm wondering if the stretching action from having no stabilizer is part of the reason it needed altering.

Anyway, I would guess that there are a LOT of kilts out there lacking proper internal construction. With the proliferation of budget kilts and the steep competition to sell them to tourists and entry-level kilt-wearers, suppliers are taking shortcuts in the hopes that those who buy them aren't ever going to know the difference. Some may be doing it in a real attempt to defraud, while others probably don't even attempt to claim their kilts are too well built. But the problem is, the general public doesn't really pay attention to this sort of thing.