Military Rolled Box Pleat Alterations

[RCAnderson]

I need some advice on kilt alterations. I just received a brand new Royal Regiment of Scotland kilt that still has the basting stitches and was never issued. I have been waiting on it for a while, unfortunately when it got here today it is WAY too long. It fits me like a glove except for the drop being 27" and I wear a 23" drop.

Normally I would just have it hemmed up like I have done with all of my other kilts that were purchased too long, but this one has the military rolled box pleats instead of the knife pleats. I am not sure if a kilt with the military pleats can be hemmed up 4" without it affecting the pleats. Has anyone had any experience with this situation before? I don't want to ruin a brand new kilt experimenting.

[The Wizard of BC]

I too have one of these. And it was way too long when it arrived as these all are.

I altered it from the top down.

I removed the waistband, closed the strap hole, moved the stabilizer down, and re-assembled the kilt. It now fits perfectly.

Total time start to finish, about 11 man-hours.

[Orionson]

I have never understood the modern reluctance to wear these Military style Kilts in the high rise manner in which they are worn in the Military. The thought of chopping them down from the top, or worse, hemming them from the bottom just rankles me.

I know, to each their own ~ and so, be it. Yet, in my world some things should ever be sacrosanct.

[Jock Scot]

I have never understood the modern reluctance to wear these Military style Kilts in the high rise manner in which they are worn in the Military. The thought of chopping them down from the top, or worse, hemming them from the bottom just rankles me.

I know, to each their own ~ and so, be it. Yet, in my world some things should ever be sacrosanct.

The very same thoughts are running through my mind too and like you, I quite accept that personal choice prevails as does an individual's height perhaps, but................

[kiltedtom]

Dr. Anderson,

I can full understand your situation. From my "natural waist" (about 2 inches above my navel) to mid knees on me, is only 22 inches. So if I had to wear a kilt with a 27 inch drop, I would have it riding in my armpits. I am not aware as to if that is where soldiers wear their kilts, but I cannot believe it is quite that high. So go ahead and do the alterations necessary for you to be comfortable in your new kilt. Bet it looks great. I have not seen a Royal Regiment of Scotland kilt before. Be sure to post pics!

Have a great day.

Tom

P.S. What is your Ph.D. in? Mine is history.

[auld argonian]

I alway understood that these kilts were supposed to be worn "up to your armpits". Anybody got a photo of someone in the military wearing the kilt properly? I've never been interested in one of these kilts because of the high rise and the heavier weight…it's fine when it's part of your uniform but for general civilian use it looks like way too much. Obviously, to each his own but unless you're a re-enactor, I can't see why you would want a military kilt.

Best,

AA

[Pleater]

When you say that the top part fits - is that with all the excess length above the waist? If so then the kilt really needs to have the top removed, because the fell is shaped into the waist and then out again.

You can't just hem up the bottom and then lower the top edge to your waist, the kilt will be the wrong shape. The > < part of it will be on the ( ) part of you - if you see what I mean.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[RCAnderson]

Anne,

The waist and fell are perfect just as they are. At my natural waist the widest part of the kilt is directly across the widest part of my hips which causes the pleats to hang straight down as they are supposed to. It fits just like the custom kilts that I have had made for my measurements, except for the drop being so long. Apparently whoever this was made for was my size with long giraffe legs, lol.

[Mike S]

Part of the reason that military kilts were worn so high is because Victorian era medicine taught that good health required that the kidneys be kept covered and warm in inclement weather.

This is also where the mistaken belief that cold weather was itself a cause of flu and cold, rather than viruses and the increased proximity of human exposure vs. warmer seasons.

[Tarheel]

I remember that military issue (anything worn) was based on an 18 year old body after basic training being stretched, shrunken, fattened, etc. to accommodate the four inches of extra length you have discovered in your purchase.
I think the "WIZ" has the ideal fix by starting at the top for alteration.