Downsize a UK?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

OK, as I posted on another thread, my waist size has shrunk over the past few months. I have 3 UK's, a 42, 41, and 29. Surprisingly, the 42 and 39 are smaller than the 41. The 42 is still fitting fine and the 39 should be perfect in a few more weeks (still a little snug now). Anyway, I was considering making the one that is too large smaller. In looking at the construction, it appears that I would have a good shot at detaching the waist band at the back where the pleats reverse (and where the material is joined), and take cut out, or fold over, about 3/4" - 1" of material. Then make that center back pleat slightly deeper on both sides (or possible leave it alone, but not sure how it would fall if I did not do somethingk), re-set the pleats and sew the waistband back down to the pleats.

Would this work? Anybody see an problems? anybody tried this?

[flyv65]

If the 42 is my "ex" UK, it could be smaller than your 41 because I've pitched the darn thing into the dryer once too often. In my defense though, I used to have a noticeably smaller waist after I had the noticeably larger waist (right now, I'm in the middle, but much stronger).

Bryan...physically, not aromatically...

[Eujeankilt]

Mr. Chairman,

I was wondering the same thing. My first UK was a 37", but I have found that 36" fits better. The 37" sort of bunches up. I guess it looks ok, but it doesn't feel right. Ripping the back seam and taking it in doesn't seem difficult, but I'm not sure how to tighten up the waistband so that it looks and feels right.

Dale

[cavscout]

I know a kilt is hard to part with, but if the kilts are in decent shape you may find you could sell them on ebay for as much as you paid for it. I sold a Survival kilt for a slight profit that way. You'd have to be willing to stand the jones for a new one though

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

If the 42 is my "ex" UK, it could be smaller than your 41 because I've pitched the darn thing into the dryer once too often. In my defense though, I used to have a noticeably smaller waist after I had the noticeably larger waist (right now, I'm in the middle, but much stronger).

Bryan...physically, not aromatically...

Bryan, actually it is the one I got from you. The funny thing is that the one I got from you is taggged as a 41! That is why it confuses me that it is large than the 42 mocker I bought direct from UK. And if your correct in that drying it shrunk it some, then how big was it really at the beginning?

Anyway, I know that I could probably sell it on eBay, but truth be told, it is one of my favorite. As Mowgli said, you can strap a kilt belt on it, distribute the wrinkles to the back, and go to town. It just does not feel as comfortable nor look as sharp. Besides, it would be politically incorrect for me to try and buy another kilt right now! The DW would not be too happy.

Might have to try this in the next few weeks.

[Pleater]

That was the method I suggested when I saw the only UK I have seen in the cloth. It should have been the right size but was about two inches or so too large.

I suggested taking out a couple of inches from the waistband at the centre back and either cutting out the same amount of cloth at a seam or seams or remaking the pleats to accomodate the extra fabric.

It was black cotton and he was wearing it at the time so I could not see the details all that well, and I wasn't about to try to examine the inside to see which would be the easiest option.

[The Wizard of BC]

I have re-sized a few UK's now. Re- doing another companies product is not how I like to spend my day, but when customers come in and ask....

Check to see if there are rear pockets that will get in the way. There needs to be one full pleat on each side of the center join for this to work well.

You are basically going to remove one pleat on each side of the center join. then put it back together.


Remove the entire waistband.

rip out the center pleat at the existing seam.

rip out the top stitching of the next two "in" pleats.

remove one entire pleat on each side of the center join.

sew it back together just the way it was but minus the two pleats you removed.

re-locate the beltloops

re-sew on the waistband.

replace the snaps if necessary.

The entire process takes about three hours for me now. The first one I was asked to do took a full day. Most of that head scratching time.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Steve,

Thanks for chiming in! I can see doing it your way for the amount of fabric you were trying to remove, but how about for smaller adjustments? I am only looking at 1/2" - 1". Taking out both pleats would make it too small. Do you think the following would work:

Cutting the waistband above the back center seam
Rip the stitches from the waistband to the pleat back to the next pleat on each side
Rip the center seam where the cloth is joined
Make the reverse pleat deeper on each side by equal amounts (this will mean a smaller reveal on the pleats at the center, but they will still be symmetrical)
Overlap the waistband
Stitch the waistband back to the pleats
Stitch the waistband together with the stitches centered over the back center pleat.

Seems like it would take a similar, or less time, preserve the fabric for future growth, and look fine. The only drawback being that the you could only un-overlap to mae it bigger to a size slightly smaller than the original waist size.

[The Wizard of BC]

If I can suggest another method.

If you only want an inch or so, don't rip the thing in two. Leave the center seam intact. Remove the top stitching from the two "out" pleats and the two "in" pleats that make up the reverse box pleat at the center.

rip out only enough waistband to be able to turn it inside out.

reduce the amount of "reveal" of the two center back pleats and iron new pleat edges. re-Top stitch these.

then stitch the two pleats you just re-topstitched back down to the center seam in the Fell area.

Then iron new "in" pleats from the back and re-topstitch them.

Mark the amount of waistband that needs to be removed and turn the waistband inside out. Cut out or iron flat the excess fabric leaving enough seam allowance to sew it back together.

sew the waistband back on and your done.

This method leaves all the fabric intact in case you ever need to make it bigger.

It should only take an hour or two.

[Eujeankilt]

If I can suggest another method.


rip out only enough waistband to be able to turn it inside out.

Mark the amount of waistband that needs to be removed and turn the waistband inside out. Cut out or iron flat the excess fabric leaving enough seam allowance to sew it back together.

Steve,

Thanks for your time and expertise on this. I follow your logic on this but I don't quite understand what you mean by turning the waistband inside out. Are you saying fold the waistband under a bit (pushing from the sides toward the center) to account for the extra fabric? Sorry for being dense.

Dale