As I've mentioned, due to me being the only person in the band who has taken a kiltmaking course and made a kilt, I've become the band's ersatz "regimental tailor", who makes whatever necessary modifications.

We bought an entire used band set of kilts and I was kept busy moving buckles and straps, taking out hems, restoring belt loop positioning, etc.

Three of us needed to have new matching kilts made, and we got these from J Higgins.

The price was good, the delivery prompt, and the kilts matched our existing kilts perfectly. These Higgins kilts appeared to be well-made, with nicely hand-stitched pleats.

I'm one of the members who got a new kilt, and I noted that my kilt has a sturdy internal stabiliser and that the tabs which hold the buckles were stitched through to it, so that the wool doesn't take the strain.

However I just now am in the process of moving the buckles on another of these new Higgins kilts (the guy has been losing weight) and I was surprised to find that the tabs which hold the buckles are NOT stitched through to the stabiliser, but merely basted onto the surface wool, so that when the kilt is worn the wool takes the strain, the wool stretches, and the pattern distorts. I've stitched them all through to correct the issue.

I don't know why they would do one kilt correctly, and another kilt not. (I'll have to check the third kilt.)

So just a note to owners of Higgins kilts, and any make of kilt for that matter: you might want to check to see that there's a stabiliser in place, and that the straps are stitched through to it.

If not, it's very easy to fix, and will save your nice kilt from stretching out and distorting.