Recommendations for Kiltmaker that will alter kilts

**ZedJed** · 9th September 22, 08:50 AM

I was fortunate to have come into 3 wool kilts essentially for free. Two are far too big(they're size 40 waist and I'm size 30-32). Are there any kilt makers in the US that would take in a kilt?

**Steve Ashton** · 9th September 22, 10:15 AM

While reducing the size of a kilt by 8-10 inches is not unheard of, - May I ask please - Do you know who made the kilts?
I'm not sure I would spend a lot of money on alterations if these if they are not of the highest quality in the first place.

Many band kilts will have alterations like this done in their lifetimes but it is not the usual practice for a personal kilt.

The problem is that you are not only reducing the waist, but the hip, and perhaps the length. You may be talking about taking the kilt completely apart and removing as many as 8-10 pleats.

It would almost make more sense, unless these kilts have sentimental value, to find a kilt in your size. The reason I say this is that the type of alteration you are talking about would be almost a complete rebuild. Basically, it is about the same as you providing the fabric for a new kilt. A kiltmaker will usually charge between $350.00 and $500.00 for their labor to make a new kilt so this is about the ballpark to rebuild one.

**ZedJed** · 9th September 22, 10:57 AM

They are quality wool kilts, I forget the maker off of the top of my head. The length of them are fine, it just needs some fabric to fit the waist/reduce the apron size a bit.

**Pleater** · 12th September 22, 03:25 PM

I am a bit of a perfectionist, I know, but I'd second the advice to buy kilts which fit and sell those which do not.

If a kilt is a good fit then it is fairly rigidly shaped into the shape of a person of that size and removing a significant amount of it will make it unbalanced either in the shape, or the placing of the pattern, or possibly both.
I made kilts to fit me when my waist was larger and have altered some of them several times as I reduced in circumference. To do a good job I needed to take them apart completely and start from scratch, which is alright as I did not use any technique which could not be reversed, and the fabric made into an almost flat strip again. The lining could be unstitched and the curves altered to fit fairly easily, but it was more work to alter them than to make them in the first place, and it was necessary to be careful and go slowly in order to avoid damaging the fabric.

Anne the Pleater