How do you work out a seat from a kilt?

[KiltFitz]

Hope some kind soul can help me here:

I have to get someone's kilt measurements without actually measuring them. This is for a gift.

I'm going to be given their existing kilt so I can take length and waist but I would like to be able to get the seat measurement correct too, rather than guessing.

Can anyone tell me the best way to do this?

[Father Bill]

I take it this is a surprise gift?

Maybe from trousers, since they fit more exactly there - jeans in particular?

[KiltFitz]

That would be fine if it is just as accurate. How do I do that?

[Barb T]

You can fold the kilt in half at the bottom of the fell so that it curves smoothly and the bottom of the fell is stretched out and then measure along a tartan line at the bottom of the fell from the fringe edge, across the apron, and across the pleats stopping at the pleat edge of the underapron. That will give you a number of inches.

But, you don't know how that # of inches actually relates to the hip measurement that the kiltmaker took. In the kilts that I make, that would be at least an inch bigger than the actual measurement I would get if I measured the person around the hips. I always add an inch to the fringe edge of the apron to make sure that the apron covers the underapron, and I commonly add several inches to the hips if someone has a big belly so that the front of the kilt hangs straighter (avoiding the tilted barrel look).

If you're gifting a kilt that is an "off the rack" inexpensive kilt, you'll be fine with an approximation, because they'll likely only ask for a waist measurement. If this is for an expensive custom-made kilt, I would strongly urge you to surprise the person with a picture and a gift certificate, and then do the proper measurements the way the kiltmaker wants them.

[KiltFitz]

We talked about presenting him with the cloth but there is an elaborate joke to be fulfilled which will only work with the kilt as made. It is for a made to measure kilt but that shouldn't cause too much panic: I've been working in highlandwear retail for a while now so I am reasonably confident I can get this right. I routinely measure customers for machine and hand sewn options of various styles and yardage.

I'm just curious what a craft kiltmaker would do if tasked with making a replica of an existing kilt. How would you determine its dimensions? It's not a situation I have encountered before. There is a reason I don't want to approach anyone at my employer for advice however.

For seat measurement I normally take a loose measurement while someone is wearing trousers across the widest point. This kilt is going to be made for growth anyway so there will be more than the usual range of movement for the aprons.

[Barb T]

Not sure why I would want to replicate an existing kilt when I could measure the person it was meant to fit, but, if I had to do it, I would measure the kilt at the waist and at the bottom of the fell and go from there.

[KiltFitz]

Thanks Barb. Been reading your book BTW which I bought for my beloved as a present. I have no manual skill whatsoever to attempt it but it's really helped me in lots of other ways.