Too tight, Extender or mod?

[MartinMU]

Hi

I got my RRS Blackwatch kilt for my size 175/88/104.

The waist of 88cm on the inner apron is a bit tight, meaning that the strap i have to put it in the last hole and it fits really tight. The buckle is pulled into the strap hole of the kilt. I don't think thats good. The outer apron straps have one spare hole. Its not as tight.

My waist is probably around 89 to 90cm. It has been like this for decades now and its not going to change for the time being.

Since the buckle sits more or less, "stock" over the strap hole, i am a bit concerned about how to give this 1-2cm more. All that my kiltmaker probably can do is change the strap for the inner apron, i assume and then the strap extender is being the same and i already have it for less than 15 bucks, while the kilt maker here in Switzerland is asking me 45 bucks an hour.

Whats you opinions? Shall I mod it or just leave it with extenders?

[geomick]

if you are going to wear it frequently, then having the strap changed is better, if only once or twice a year, then the extender strap will work

at least that's my opinion

[MartinMU]

if you are going to wear it frequently, then having the strap changed is better, if only once or twice a year, then the extender strap will work

at least that's my opinion

About 3 outdoor full day events, one indoor evening event, eventually one outdoor evening event. Thats it

[CBH]

I recently had to get waist sizes modified on 2 kilts. There are no kiltmakers near me, so it was a regular clothing alterations shop. I decided to move the buckles, as that seemed to be the least invasive way to do the change. I believe it was the right decision - most likely to do the least harm.

They were generally terrible, but my advice is to make sure they move both buckles the exact same amount. Otherwise you'll have one apron in, let's say the 2nd hole, and a different hole for the other.

They had to re-do it serveral times, finally with me trying it on and them making the fix on the spot. It still took another 2 or 3 rounds like this to get it right.

So take something else to wear while they modify your kilt.

[OC Richard]

Due to my weight yo-yoing over the years I've got used to moving straps and buckles.

Actually I just did that to my four kilts yesterday, due to accumulating some Holidays weight.

On the wearer's right side it's a matter of very carefully, with a Seam Ripper, removing the basting/hand stitches which attach the cloth tab (which holds the buckle) to the kilt, repositioning the buckle further in the direction of the Under Apron, and stitching it back on.

Then repeat if your kilt has two right-side buckles.

According to how far the kilt needs to be let out, it might mean the fringe doesn't quite come to the Reverse Pleat, in other words exposing some of the Under Apron.

On the wearer's left it's totally different, as the buckle stays put, being located at the hole in the kilt for the strap to pass through.

The strap in this case is attached near the edge of the Under Apron. If you're letting out a kilt it often means replacing the existing strap with a longer strap.

In years of adjusting tons of Band kilts, I've got used to making my own Under Apron straps, sometimes quite long, out of scrap leather.

[OC Richard]

Yesterday I ran into a problem moving the right-side buckle that I've never encountered, in 50 years of wearing and adjusting kilts.

The cloth tab that holds the buckle was MACHINE stitched onto the kilt! Why??

It was far more difficult removing rows of tiny super-tight stitching, made worse by the fact that the kiltmaker used some kind of really tough nylon thread.

If I order another kilt from this guy I'm going to tell him not to attach the buckles, I'll do it myself.

[Canadian Vet]

I have the opposite problem right now. I have lost a lot of weight and was suddenly surprised to be having difficulty keeping my kilt up during a Christmas Eve service. The Anglicans were intrigued but understanding.
I have to "tuck in" a couple of kilts and I should overshoot a bit to account for further shrinkage.

[Troglodyte]

Hi

I got my RRS Blackwatch kilt for my size 175/88/104.

The waist of 88cm on the inner apron is a bit tight, meaning that the strap i have to put it in the last hole and it fits really tight. The buckle is pulled into the strap hole of the kilt. I don't think thats good. The outer apron straps have one spare hole. Its not as tight.

My waist is probably around 89 to 90cm. It has been like this for decades now and its not going to change for the time being.

Since the buckle sits more or less, "stock" over the strap hole, i am a bit concerned about how to give this 1-2cm more. All that my kiltmaker probably can do is change the strap for the inner apron, i assume and then the strap extender is being the same and i already have it for less than 15 bucks, while the kilt maker here in Switzerland is asking me 45 bucks an hour.

Whats you opinions? Shall I mod it or just leave it with extenders?

As regimental kilts are pleated to the stripe, altering their waist-size has less of a visual effect than on a kilt pleated to the sett.

As long as you can keep the right-hand edge of the front apron positioned to butt-up against (at least) the edge of the first pleat on right, you should be free to make what adjustments are necessary.

You have a couple of easy-fix options that I can see - one is to move the buckle on the right a little bit further to the front, while moving the strap on the inner apron a corresponding amount to the edge. The right-hand buckle is usually placed a few pleats back, so moving forward a pleat or two should make no significant difference.

You may have a problem with the inner apron strap, as it may be positioned right on the edge already. The simplest solution here is to fit a longer leather.

Alternatively, you could replace both straps for something longer, and do away with the left-side buckle. A strap long enough to pass from the edge of the inner apron, through the left-hand slot, around the back, and fasten (like some early kilts) at the right might be a better option. For this you would need to remover both stitched-down buckles (the left one becomes redundant) and attach one to the right-hand strap, replacing the strap if necessary. The long strap is now passed through the slot, around the back and fastened to the buckle at the right.

There is frequently enough of a turn-in at the edge of the inner apron to allow a few centimetres to be let out - which may help with repositioning the strap.

I have seen regimental kilts from the 1930s that had no strap at the left at all, only the two on the right, so no problem at all with a left-hand strap. Perhaps you could consider this as an option, removing the strap and buckle and sewing-up the slot. All fastening for a good fit is done only at the right.