Jacket conversion help.

[Friday]

I am larger than the average bear (excuse me Yogi) and have not been able to come up with the price of either an off-the-rack or made to measure kilt jacket. Yesterday, my wife stopped at the outlet mall in Gettysburg, PA. While she was shopping I made my usual stops at the leather store and Casual Male Big and Tall. As I walked down their discounted clothing rack, this is the rack for discounts on their already discounted outlet price, and saw a Black suit jacket. The hanger said it was my size. I tried it on and found out the hanger was right, it fit very nicely. I then looked at the original price on the tag. Not bad but more than I would spent to turn around and cut it up. I then looked at the discount tag and started to go weak in the knees. The price was below my choking point. I am an improving my sewing skill, but at this price if I really destroyed the project I can live with it.

I am rereading the conversion threads and other information at hand, but, two items are not as clear as I would like.

1) The hem of the jacket is a little higher than the fell line of the kilt.
2) Are kilt jackets ever made with patch pockets rather than slash pockets? I believe that I have seen older pictures of Argyll with patch pockets, but would an Argyll with patch pockets still be exceptable as semi-formal wear?

I hope to have this complete in time for the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival.