What length Kilt for my waist?

**WildDaw** · 30th November 11, 07:14 AM

Hi folks,

I'm new here and looking to buy a kilt quite soon but I was wondering what length should I get e.g 5 or 8 yards? I'm asking as I know 8 yard has a nicer swing to it but my waist is only 28" so I was wondering is 8 yards too big? Could I still get a nice swing off a 5 yard?

Thanks.

**xman** · 30th November 11, 09:51 AM

Welcome to XMTS

An 8 yarder would only use 7 yards for you. That would give you the optimal swing, but I think a 5 yard kilt would still look nice on just about anyone. Not quite the same swish, but still very nice. the pleating would be a little creative though so if you're looking for pleating to strip or sett you'll want the 7 yards.

Rather than think about how it will swing, think about how you will use it. If you intend to dress up for special events the 7 yard kilt would look better. If you just want something to wear around town then the 5 yarder will do fine.

**RockyR** · 30th November 11, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by xman

Welcome to XMTS

An 8 yarder would only use 7 yards for you. That would give you the optimal swing, but I think a 5 yard kilt would still look nice on just about anyone. Not quite the same swish, but still very nice. the pleating would be a little creative though so if you're looking for pleating to strip or sett you'll want the 7 yards.

Rather than think about how it will swing, think about how you will use it. If you intend to dress up for special events the 7 yard kilt would look better. If you just want something to wear around town then the 5 yarder will do fine.

Well said, Xman.

Also, keep in mind that a "5 yarder" on someone with a 28" waist may actually be a 4 or 4.5 yarder, depending on the maker. Skinnier guys = Less Cloth needed to get the same result.

**Peter Crowe** · 30th November 11, 10:08 AM

Welcome to XMTS.

Before I entered my 30's I had a very small waist (29") as I have Marfan syndrome and am fine boned (skinny) with disproportionately long limbs. When I was 17 (and my waist was probably only 28" and I was about 5' 11" tall) I had a kilt made that was 7 yards long. I wore it until I inherited my dad's old 8 yard tank at age 24 (because his waistline had expanded too much), which is still wearable on me but a bit too low at the waist. If you are dealing with a good kiltmaker ask plenty questions and you should get the correct length of kilt that works on your frame.

**piperdbh** · 30th November 11, 10:31 AM

You could always opt for a 4-yard box-pleated kilt.

**WildDaw** · 30th November 11, 10:42 AM

Thanks for all the info, yes it will just be a casual/round town kilt for this one, but i'll take into account what you've all said when I do go for a more formal kilt.
Also cheers for the welcomes, this place is really really helpful.

**Ryan Ross** · 30th November 11, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

You could always opt for a 4-yard box-pleated kilt.

That would be my suggestion, as well. Very comfortable, historical, economical, easy to take care of, and they look awesome.

Matt Newsome, of New House Highland, would be my suggestion on who to go to, of course.

**Pleater** · 2nd December 11, 04:26 AM

There is also the 'doesn't feel right' factor - I was making up my first kilt in heavyweight tartan, and found that it really was too much, so I took out about a yard of material and it was a lot better like that. It meant that the visible portion of each pleat was slightly larger, the difference in appearance was very slight but the alteration in how it felt was significant.

It no longer felt as though I was wearing a bustle, and is more balanced front to back.

I have made a kilt using half sets in order to reduce the amount of fabric, so making more pleats but shallower ones arather than fewer deep ones.

A lot depends on the tartan, its weight and the sett size, as that could make well over a yard difference in the amount required to make the same size kilt.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**chrisupyonder** · 3rd December 11, 10:17 PM

It also depends where you live, hot or cold climate. I have a 12oz poly/wool 80/20% 5yd for summer. Very light and easy to wear. But now its winter in Scotland so I now wear my 16oz 8yd wool tank.

Welcome to the forum from the the far north on Scotland.

Chris.

**Tobus** · 30th November 11, 11:19 AM

The swing is definitely better on a full-yardage kilt, but that's actually not why I love them so much more than the low-yardage ones. I think the pleats just look better when they're deeply overlapping, with narrow exposed edges. It just looks "right" to me, where shallower pleats with wider exposed portions don't. The exception would be the box pleat which necessarily has wide pleats.

Your waist size really isn't going to make much of a difference. The kilt-maker will adjust the yardage to fit you. It may be only 7 yards as opposed to 8, but that's not what matters. What matters is the construction, depth of pleats, and the overall look and swish. Having owned both types, I would definitely recommend going for the full-yardage one first. You won't be sorry.