Having a kilt altered...?

[The Wizard of BC]

Good Day sir,

OK, here it is in a nutshell.

Yes, kilts can be altered to be made smaller.

Now, the full answer -
Yes, they can, provided -
1. The kilt only needs the waist taken in.
2. If, after altering, the hips still fit well.
3. If the kilt does not need to be shortened or lengthened.
4. If the kilt is in good condition.

Taking in the waist of a kilt can be accomplished by removing and re-positioning the straps and buckles. The most I have ever taken in a kilt is about 5 inches. I know that Barb has done at least one kilt that needed to come in quite a bit more.

You remove the right buckles and the left, under-apron strap. Then re-sew these back on to the new measurements.

It is a little harder to adjust the hip circumference. If the Hips are too big you will get large, "shower curtain" ripples in the back of the kilt.
If the Hips are too small the aprons will gape open.
The bottom of the Fell area must be fairly close to the crest of the hips and buttocks. If the bottom of the Fell is too low you will again get the shower curtain effect.
If the bottom of the Fell is too high the pleats will not hang and will splay out.

Shortening a kilt can be done by hemming if the Fell is in the right place. If not the kilt must be shortened from the top waistband down. This is now a re-build job.
Lengthening is usually not possible. There is simply no more fabric to add in.

By good condition I mean - Was the kilt made well in the first place? If there is no stabilizer (and we are seeing more and more kilts where this small important item was missed or left out ) or the stabilizer or interfacings have failed over time you are into a re-build.
This is usually indicated by popped stitches in the Fell area or distortions of the Tartan fabric itself.

When straps and buckles are sewn on or re-positioned you do not sew them to the outer, Tartan fabric itself. You actually must. (and I can't stress that word MUST enough) sew all the way through the Tartan fabric and catch the stabilizer and interfacings.
The internal construction elements of a traditional kilt are what you are actually strapping on. The outer Tartan fabric should float over the stabilizer and interfacings without putting stress on the Fell stitching or the wool fabric.
If you fail to catch the stitching all the way though to the internal elements you have weakened the kilt and it WILL fail. Maybe not right away but soon.

If the straps were originally sewn just to the outer fabric you will already see the signs of stress. Popped stitches or distortion of the Tartan are fixable but again you are into a re-build situation.

A normal person, with a little care and knowledge of what needs to be done can take the waist of a kilt in. Moving the straps and buckles is not a hard or complex job.
You don't really need a kiltmaker. If you are handy with a needle and thread it should take no more than a few hours to accomplish.

Good luck and remember to post photos your new kilt.