altered kilt on Ebay

**OC Richard** · 27th March 19, 04:11 AM

This is a quality Burnett & Struths kilt.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323729332798?ul_noapp=true

I can see from the photo of the back that the buckles have been moved far from their original position to make the kilt fit a smaller person.

I think I can see in one photo that the kilt was hemmed up, what, 3 inches or so?

I asked the seller for some measurements, the rear pleated portion at the waist is 18 inches wide.

The kilt is said to now fit around a 32 to 34 inch waist.

My question is, what might the original size might have been? 36 inch waist and maybe 40 inch hips? That's only a few inches bigger, could that explain how far the buckles have been moved? Looks like 6 to 8 inches, just a guesstimate.

It would be great to have a kiltmaker's insight. Thanks!

**Me cousin Jack** · 27th March 19, 09:09 AM

To me that kilt scales somewhere in the high 40’s low 50’s. If I counted the pleats right and they are .75”
26x.75=19.5 and two aprons at about the same day 18” plus 18” brings ti to 55” and change fudge factor...this is just a SWAG
Scientific wild azz guess.

**OC Richard** · 28th March 19, 04:23 AM

Thanks!

That's exactly what I was wondering, what I was thinking, that the kilt was originally made for a much bigger size.

**Mike S** · 29th March 19, 12:32 PM

I see by the ebay photos that the seller shares three other interests in common with myself, militaria, piping. and firearms/reloading. ;)

**Steve Ashton** · 29th March 19, 01:43 PM

I don't think that this kilt has been sized down that much.
If you look at the under apron strap it appears to have been moved about 2-3 inches.
This is about the same that the right side buckles appear to have been moved.

It would be the hem that concerned me. To alter a kilt like this you would normally do it from the top down. This is so the bottom of the Fell stays at the crest of the hips and buttocks.
I suspect that the wearer wanted to wear this lower than it was designed to be worn.

If you let down a hem like this the crease will never completely go away. Especially if the hem has been in for a while.

And when the kilt was pressed after the hem was put in, whoever did the work did not keep the creases straight. I doubt that his kilt hangs as well now as it did when new. I will almost bet that the back of this kilt shows the 'shower curtain' folds that are so common on a poorly pressed kilt worn low.