I Might Need A Kilt

[SimonWolfe]

Hello All,

I have decided to finally settle down and get married and of course this is an almost mandatory kilt event. However, I have run into a bit of a snag. My "good" kilt was purchased many, many, many years ago and two unfortunate things have occurred. 1) I have “expanded” and my good kilt doesn't quite fit any more and 2) the kilt maker I bought it from has long gone out of business.

I have two other kilts one is a surplus military (Black Watch). As surplus military goes it is a bit long but wearable (I really never fully understood how long a kilt should be). The second is an inexpensive synthetic one I purchased in Edinburgh, which is too long but very comfortable to wear (very casual) in the warm California climate.

Thus, I started looking on line for a new kilt maker only to find lots of them offering lots of options and asking for lots of money.

So I have to ask, those who are wiser than I (all of you to be precise) what should I do? I could get belt extenders for my good kilt, but would that look a bit off? The military kilt isn't that too long, as far as I can tell and could work, however I don't have a plaid for it and it is not my clan tartan. I'd like to invest it a new kilt but I have no idea where to go and what options I need. I also have a fairly strong desire to not go broke in the process (have you see the price of wedding rings??).

Thank you all for your assistance in this matter.

[The Wizard of BC]

Hello Simon, Welcome back.

Here are a few possibilities.

Find a good Kiltmaker willing to re-build your kilt. The labor charge is what it would cost to make a kilt in the first place because they will need to dis-assemble and re-build your kilt from scratch.
The downside of this is the same as the up side. The cost. The labor to make a traditional kilt is about half of the total with the fabric being the other half. So depending on your budget this may or may not be an option.
Look at some of our advertisers first. You are pretty sure of getting a fair price and a quality job. I re-build kilts as does, I think, Bonnie Heather Greene. Also check with John at Keltoi and Burnett's & Struth.

Look for a good kilt that takes a bit less fabric. I do not mean a casual kilt or one of those "5 yard kilts" as they are usually not built to full traditional standards. I mean a good box pleated kilt as one made by Mac Newsome. These are from an old, very traditional style and pattern. However a box-pleated kilt uses about half the fabric. You save about 1/4 of of the cost of an 8 yard knife pleated kilt that is built to a very high standard and looks great.

Find a kiltmaker offering a kilt from 13 oz fabric. You will save about 1/8th of the cost of a 16oz, 8 yard kilt.

Find a Kiltmaker who will make you a good custom made kilt in Marton Mills Poly/Rayon blend fabric. You did not say what Tartan you prefer but if Marton Mills weaves it a Poly/Rayon kilt will give very good service, is machine washable and can look as good as a wool kilt for about 1/2 the cost of wool. Inquire with me a FK or Rocky at USA Kilts.
The total cost of a Poly/Rayon kilt will be about 1/3 of a 16oz wool kilt.

Check with Jerry at Stillwater Kilts for a good price on an acrylic imported kilt. If you already have. and like, the acrylic kilts you already know that they are much less than a domestic wool kilt. Off the rack sizing and off the rack swish but for the money a good alternative.

There you go, in order, some options you may not have thought of.

[Spartan Tartan]

I would also begin to develop a "list" of what you feel you need for the wedding. I note that you already mentioned a plaid... that may not be necessary (well, IS NOT in my personal opinion, but others opinions on the subject vary) and getting one definitely adds to the bottom line overall. Or, if you are working from an already fixed budget, reduces what is left for the remainder of your outfit--or even just what is available to spend on a kilt!

Steve has very solid recommendations about lower yardage kilts that are still made in a traditional manner (i.e. with internal stabilizers and other more robust construction techniques). My 4-yd boxpleat litterally cost half my 8 yard kilt... and I MUCH prefer the overall wearing experience as well.

You will find this to be a great place to get many, if not all, your questions answered. But I would offer one final bit of advice:
Take the time to figure out what you want...then find a kilt maker to make it. Working directly with your kilt maker will ensure proper fit and they will be able to assist you in determining how long you want your kilt to be.

Best of luck, and WELCOME!

[SimonWolfe]

Rebuild my kilt? I never thought of that. The material is still good but the apron has a couple of small snags from a good service life. The other benefit is that all the “extras” I have for it will match as it is the same tartan from the same weaver.

Steve, If you are wiling to talk off line about rebuilding my kilt please send me a PM. Also, I be asking about getting the rayon on shortened.

Thanks!

[SimonWolfe]

I agree with you 100%+ ! The wedding is well over a year away which will give me time to get my kilt sorted and figure out what else we want and need.

If I can get the kilt rebuilt that would work out well in my favour.

I like the way a plaid looks for formal occasions. In the winter even when i'm not in kilt I'll use my plaid as a scarf.

[Nathan]

Another thing you might do is take a photo of yourself in the black watch kilt. Some gents wear their kilts too low (on their hips like jeans) and therefore they look too long. Are you strapping the black watch kilt at your natural waist, above your hip bones and below your ribs? Post a pic and let the rabble weigh in on how it fits. As mentioned before, you don't need a plaid, so this may be your most cost effective option.

On the other hand, if you really would prefer to wear your own clan's tartan, I can't blame you for that and Steve's advice is most sound in that case.

If I was you, I'd have my kilt rebuilt if simply moving the buckles and straps didn't buy me enough space.

Best regards and congratulations.

[Laird_M]

can't offer any better advice than that given above, so I'll just say congratulations and well done for thinking ahead.

[WillowEstate]

The wedding is well over a year away which will give me time to get my kilt sorted and figure out what else we want and need.

Hi Simon, such a shame your kilt has shrunk - they can have a habit of doing that! An off the wall idea, since you have over a year, is there any chance you could shrink to fit the kilt?

Otherwise, take Steve's more sensible advice!

[Pleater]

I lost 12 inches off my waist in a fairly short time by eating fewer carbohydrates. If you need to lose just a few inches in order to fit into your good kilt it should be easy to do. You don't need to exercise daily or count calories, just cut down the carbs.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[GG]

12 inches sounds like equalizing a LOT of kilos. When I (again and again) drop 5 kilos my waist only goes down by about two inches.