A Hem...

[McRoy]

Morning all,

I was curious if the bottom of a kilt should be hemmed, or if it is simply left unfinished. My scarlet military tunic is correctly not hemmed per tradition, so I am wondering as mine came unhemmed if this is how they're finished.

McRoy of the Clan McRoy

[ASinclair]

Do not hem a wool kilt.

[Andrew Breecher]

Traditional kilts have a finished selvage edge at the bottom, and should not be - and should not need to be - hemmed. Since it's a selvage edge, it won't unravel.

[Tobus]

Yup, if it's a traditional wool kilt, you can see the selvedge at the bottom where the yarns are tucked back into (woven back into) the fabric. Nothing need be done here. This is how it's supposed to be.

If we're talking about some other type of material or nontraditional kilt, it may be different.

[McRoy]

Ah, well being as it's a rather cheap entry level kilt, it is simply cut, not finished. Not being sure how much wear I'd get out of any kilt, I really only intended this one for costume use, thus it didn't merit spending a lot on a quality kilt. Of course if I were to find more opportunities for wearing a kilt, I'd invest in a better one.

[Dixiecat]

Traditional kilts can be hemmed or unhemmed. There has been discussion on this before with the professional kiltmakers weighing in with that opinion as there are valid reasons why a kilt would be hemmed. What you don't see are cut, unfinished hems.