Altering Help Needed

[tiernans_minion]

I hope I'm in the right forum, lol. And just so you know, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to stuff like this, so please bear with me! Here goes:

My grandmother made this skirt/kilt (whatever the proper term is) for my Aunt many many years ago. When my Aunt died, my grandmother gave it to me, as the remaining female on her side.



There is a size difference between my Aunt and I. In this picture, you may be able to see that it is folded twice, so that there are three layers. It will not fit me this way.

I have figured out it will fit me if I move the buckles. It will only overlap about 6-8 inches, this way.

My questions are as follows:

1.) Is it a kilt if a woman is wearing it? (depending on the answer to this, you may not be able to help me, and I may be in the wrong spot!)

2.) Are there rules on how much it's supposed to overlap?

3.) Because I am making it bigger, only roughly 1/3rd will be pleated. So should I have the non-pleated part in the front, to one side, or in the back? This will determine where the buckles are, if that helps people, the buckles will be in the middle of the non-pleated section.

I don't know if this photo will help, but this is how much wider the skirt needs to be to fit me:



I will be moving the buckles over so that they will actually buckle with the straps.


And last question, which really isn't a big deal, but I figure I should ask: What tartan is this?

Thanks for answers to any or all of my questions!!!

Tiernan's Minion

[Chas]

Basically it is, move the buckles on the left hip and the strap on the right hip. But this all comes down to whether it was constructed as a kilt or as a skirt. From what I am seeing, I do not think it will be possible to do successfully without a major re-build.

Sorry

Regards

Chas

[bonnie heather]

You're lucky to have a kilted skirt (kilt-skirt) made by your grandmother!

Really the fringed edge of the apron (un-pleated panel in the front) should meet the edge of the pleated section, which is in the back.

Does the skirt have any pleat cut-outs in the inside back? Or is the cloth whole, without cut-outs? If the cloth is whole, you could unstitch the first pleat and last pleat, press out the creases and use that extra fabric to make the apron and under-apron wider.

In it's present condition, what is the measurement across at the bottom of the pleat stitching? What is the measurement across the apron at that same hip level? In many cases, kilt-skirts are wider across the pleats and more narrow across the apron. If that's the case with the "split" of the hip measurement on your skirt, probably the proportions would be ok, even after taking out those 2 pleats and making the apron (and under-apron) wider.

In my opinion, it wouldn't look good to move the buckle to the under-apron and have so much of it showing.
It's a bit more involved to make the aprons larger, but it's not that hard to do.

[tiernans_minion]

Bonnie Heather, it doesn't look like she cut out the pleats. I don't have a measuring tape with me currently, but best guess the bottom of the pleats is four yards? Or are you talking about where the pleats start, which would be about hip height?

[bonnie heather]

It's good that there are no cut-outs. About 4 yards of fabric at the hem/bottom is good, too.
When you get a chance and a have a measuring tape, please measure across the pleated area at the hip/ bottom of the pleat stitching. Then measure at that same hip point across the apron. Please tell me those 2 measurements, and also please measure your own seat/ hips and also your waist. Please also tell me how wide the tartan pattern repeat is.
Then, on to the next step....I'll help you.
Bonnie

[Skiballa]

The tartan is Stuart of Bute Hunting, check it out;
http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...e-the-htg-clan

[tiernans_minion]

So sorry I haven't gotten back to you yet, Bonnie Heather...I went on vacation, and have been having trouble getting back into the swing of things after. I will try to remember to bring my sewing kit in from the car,and get those measurements you asked for tomorrow, after work!

Thank you SO much for helping me, this means a lot to me!

And Skiballa, I think you've got it! Good to know, though I don't think I have any connection to it...I'll have to ask my grandmother! Thanks, again!

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, TM, and welcome to X Marks from the bottom end of Africa.
That is a really nice kilted skirt in a great tartan. I hope you manage to get it to fit right with Bonnie Heather’s help.
Remember: having a proven connection to a tartan you like is great, but not essential.
What’s important is to know what tartan it is and to treat it with respect.
Regards,
Mike