When I bought my first real Scottish kilt about ten years ago I gave my measurement as a 48inch waist and yardage wasn't an issue. I received a fantastic kilt, pleated to the set, and was very pleased with it. However I've lost a wee bit of weight since then, I'm now a 46inch waist/50inch seat, but for the past couple of years all the kiltmakers I've dealt with have insisted that I must have a 9 yard kilt (at extra cost). In his book 'So you're going to wear the kilt' J. Charles Thompson says that he has measured so called 8 yard kilts and has found them to contain less that 6 yards of cloth, and he advises customers not to make an issue of yardage. I just wonder how important this extra yard is and why I (or anyone else over a 45inch waist/seat) really needs it ?