Hems

[Chas]

In an unhemmed kilt the weight of the cloth is equally distributed along the length from selvedge to fell. Whereas, a kilt that has been hemmed has a higher weight at the lower end. I have been assured by a Scottish engineer that because there is this extra weight at the end of the 'moment arm', the pendulum effect will cause the kilt to swish more.

Whether, this is true or not, I have no idea. Likewise, how it would be measured is also beyond me.

Regards

Chas

[Calico]

Folks, some of you are assuming a hem is necessarily a bad thing. Please check your facts, not your assumptions.

The maker who hems ALL their kilts says so up front and is VERY well respected on this board.

I do not know why and cannot find the quote on their website just now, but you really shouldn't be casting stones until you know why you are doing so.

[davidg]

Folks, some of you are assuming a hem is necessarily a bad thing. Please check your facts, not your assumptions.

The maker who hems ALL their kilts says so up front and is VERY well respected on this board.

I do not know why and cannot find the quote on their website just now, but you really shouldn't be casting stones until you know why you are doing so.

I don't think anyone has said that a hem is a bad thing. I can think of many reasons why a kilt needs a hem and we do not know enough about BCAC's kilt to make a full judgement

What we DO know is that he was told by his kilt maker "that other kilt makers don't hem their kilts because they're too lazy and that this kilt maker estimates that their clients merit that the extra work is done to hem the kilt by hand to favorise swing, fluidity and aesthetic equality" which is just a misleading statement without a proper qualification as to why something was done that does not appear to be traditional and was seemingly unexpected

[Pleater]

I'm coming to the problem from a makers point of view, as I have never bought many of my clothes since I was tall enough to work the treadle sewing machine.

Disregarding the reason given by the kilt maker, do you have a kilt which you are happy to wear?

That is the be all and end all of the matter.

I have kilts both hemmed and selveged, and it is difficult to tell which without close inspection. As for being able to tell when a kilt is worn - it would be close to impossible.

Next time you see the seller you might smile benignly and gently ask for the real reason, if it bothers you so much - but is it really something to lose sleep over?

Strap it on and find a big mirror, do a few twirls and shakes, form your own opinion.

If you don't have a kilt you are proud to go out in then you do have cause to complain, but if the hem is just a 'post cutting feature' to make things right - is it really so bad?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[BCAC]

Everything's OK.

My kilt turned out OK. I was surprised to find a hem, and even more surprised, when questioning about it, at the response.

I can happily wear my kilt as is (ie hemmed). I'm wearing it today at work. A part from the hem, the kilt is well made, but I probably won't be using this kilt maker again.

[Dixiecat]

I've also heard that dancers, who traditionally wear lighter weight wool, can benefit from a hem because it does add weight and improve the 'bounce' of the kilt which may be more attractive to judges. Not knowing anything about judging Highland Dance I cannot personally corroborate that notion, but it seems quite sound to me.

Just because you asked, I'll say that judges don't care about the swing or bounce of a kilt other than answering the question of 'does the dancer's attire confirm with the dress code?' The code only states that any clan, family or district tartan can be worn; length is to top of the knee, and males may (if they wish) wear a kilt pin. Even still, if the answer to this question is no, a judge may only take 5 points from a dancer.

Dancers are judged on Technique, Timing and Deportment.

But, even though a lighter weight kilt does benefit from a hem, the most common reason you'll see hems on a dancer's kilt, is growing room. Most dancer's these days start young and would like to get a few years worth of use out of a kilt. It's pretty common to see 2"-6" of hem.