Modify a trad?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

So, my waist has been getting slowly smaller over the past few month (weight is staying approximately the same), due to more regular working out. The bad news is that this means that some of my traditional kilts now are too big in the waist. I know that I could break out needle and thread, move the left strap back further on the underapron and the buckles back on the right side. However, I really hate the idea of doing that (OK, I'm lazy) on the chance that my waist will get larger again, or geteven smaller if I am lucky!

Anyway, I recently got my first PK from Jeff. I like the fasteners he uses, and since he provides 3 possible mating points on both the left and right sides, there is a lot of flexibility in the waist size. So my question is, does anybody see a problem with changing a trad to have the same type of fasteners? I was thinking that I could detach the left strap from the underapron and leave it buckled through the buckle, then detach the buckle on the right side, with the strap buckled, and devise a way to provide a "floating" attachment for the buckle (thinking a small strip of velcro. Optionally, I could get rid of the buckles, but I think that they add to the good look of a traditional. Although, thinking about it, who ever sees them anyway when wearing a kilt belt.

Thought??

[Barb T]

Hi

If you have a really nice trad kilt, it would be a shame to put Velcro on it, IMHO. It really isn't time-consuming to move buckles and straps, and I think it would really be worth taking the time to move them even if you wind up moving them back later.

BTW - congrats on losing weight!!

B

[Colin]

Just to clarify, is this an actual traditional kilt (heavy wool, 8 yards, etc) or is this a Stillwater type kilt in a traditional style cut? This make make a difference in the advise you get.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Colin,

Good point. No, this is not a true trad kilt. Just a tartan I picked up off of eBay. The one I posted recently in another thread, and a second one I got late last year off of eBay. Both synthetics, cost approxiamtely $80, and since I wear kilts every day, I was thinking this would be a nice way to keep the trad look but update the fasteners.

And Barb, I agree, on a true trad I would not consider velcro, but I think that a small strip sewn on the right side at the waistband and then a small piece on the back of the buckle to mimic the look would work for me. I have also thought about just foregoing the buckles entirely and going with just the hidden fasteners Jeff uses.

[Barb T]

I agree that's not a bad solution for the kilt you have. Go for it.

Barb