A learning experience!

[kilty]

A long tale, but worth the read especially for newbies...

I'm a newbie at this only having my kilt since December. I read everything I could before buying one and then purchased a hand sewn kilt from a reputable local vendor here in town. Then I read everything I could on wearing it to include buying "So your going to wear the kilt" by Charles Thompson. My kilt was actually made by Burnett and Struth in Barrie, Ontario.

I've had a nagging problem with it since the beginning which involves the two pleats on my left curling outward. I posted the problem on a few forums and got several replies. I tried the suggestions put forward, thought that the problem was solved but it came back. The longer I wore the kilt, the more the pleats curled outwards.

I brought it back to the store where I bought it. They took a few pics of me wearing it with the curled pleats and sent them and the kilt back to Burnett and Struth. A month later it came back but the problem remained. The vendor said that this sometimes happens and there is really nothing that can be done about it. To be fair, they were very nice about it.

But I was not happy with the situation. So Barrie being a little less than 300 miles from where I live and having friends there that I could spend the night with, I decided to go to Burnett and Struth directly. I called and spoke to a professional kilt maker called Marguerite with the sweetest Scottish accent this side of the Atlantic telling her about my problem and that I would arrive Thursday afternoon. She said that she would be expecting me.

When I got there, she looked at the kilt, stitching, etc, to make sure that it had no design or manufacture defects. She really knows her stuff. After she explained to me some of the intricacies of kilt making, she had me try it on.

Sure enough, the two pleats on the left were sticking way out. When I came out of the dressing room, she immediately said: "You'rrrrre wearrrrring the kilt to low! The belts should be above yourrrrrr hip bone." She then adjusted the kilt higher up on my waist and presto, the outward curling pleats sat nicely in place!!! Problem solved in about 5 seconds.

The only problem now was that the kilt was about an inch and a half too short. She promptly told me that she would call the vendor and explain the situation. She vanished and re-appeared 5 minutes later saying that the vendor was going to provide me with a new kilt. She then took my measurements to be sure it was done right this time. The length of my kilt was 20 inches but it should have been 21 1/2.

I cannot recommend Burnett and Struth in Barrie Ontario enough. They are highly knowledgeable and very friendly people. Their store is stocked with all items imagineable for men, women and the wee folks. A tip of the hat to Marguerite and her staff for making my experience there a memorable one.

So the moral of my story is this:

1- make sure whoever measures you for your kilt knows what they are doing.

2- educate yourself and know HOW to properly wear the kilt.

3- if you think you can't afford a good hand sewn kilt, save your pennies until you can.

[Bugbear]

Glad they're going to fix it for you. Interesting effect with the pleats.

[wyldathart]

Interesting story. Another point to new folks who have not ordered a kilt yet. Take your time and read read read. I read till I was blue in the face and I'm still finding information I wish I had known before.

[dfmacliam]

I agree... I feel the same.... I wish I knew more before ordering my first kilt even though it was a casual kilt.. knowing now.. I would have been sure to ask for certain features or maybe ordered a casual from a different maker.

[Larry124]

This is in “Kilt Advice” fair enough but leans to “Traditional”.

1- make sure whoever measures you for your kilt knows what they are doing.

And the person being measured needs to know something of how they want to wear the kilt.

2- educate yourself and know HOW to properly wear the kilt.

“Properly” is a value word subject to personal interpretation and preference.

3- if you think you can't afford a good hand sewn kilt, save your pennies until you can.

Some can have as much enjoyment and utility in a less expensive kilt.

IMHO length to the half inch is about preference rather than correctness.

[kilty]

“Properly” is a value word subject to personal interpretation and preference.

Perhaps to a degree. But I was not wearing it "properly" in that I was wearing it too low. As a result, it did not fit me "properly" causing the pleat problem as well as stretching the front of the kilt (which I was willing to live with and did not mention above). Most people would not have noticed but a reasonably knowledegable kilt wearer would. And it just did not feel comfortable.

Just my 2 cents.

[Jock Scot]

Some very good advice there.

[McMurdo]

I've had a few dealings with Burnett's and have found them to be top notch every time. I'm glad you are wearing your kilt properly now and the problem has been solved, it 's too bad the folks at your local tartan shop do not know how to measure someone for a kilt, but at least it has been rectified.

[The Barry]

I'm glad that everything worked out well. Congrats to you for your fortitude and to Burnett's for getting you outfitted properly!