Questions & Pics of my New Seaforth Box

**ScotFree** · 13th August 12, 05:09 AM

Just a thought, albeit an uneducated one. Is it possible that this kilt was made for a lefty? Hence the reverse aprons?

**LitTrog** · 13th August 12, 05:56 AM

I also remember several months ago one of our resident kilt-makers built a kilt for an amputee. Might help explain the Velcro, also.

**truckie561** · 13th August 12, 05:18 PM

Steve, thanks for the detailed response. I really appreciate your recommendations on "troubleshooting" this kilt. Maybe we'll get this one figured out. I'll grab the kilt and post a few more pics tomorrow of the aprons reversed.

**truckie561** · 13th August 12, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

With your build--no. Someone may think it, but I doubt they'll ask it.

Honestly, the reversal is not something that would jump out at me at all.

Yeah....it didn't jump out at me either. I was wearing the damned thing for 30 minutes before I noticed the reversed aprons!!

**truckie561** · 13th August 12, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

I also remember several months ago one of our resident kilt-makers built a kilt for an amputee. Might help explain the Velcro, also.

L.T., this is the second authentic military kilt I purchased that only had the two straps on the outer apron, with no strap or button hole on the under apron. Someone on this forum (Matt N. or Wizard of BC) said that soldiers were given the straps and used to be responsible for sewing the straps onto their kilts. And a lot of the soldiers opted to only sew the two straps on the outer apron....or something like that. But, the whole point of that was to say that the strap on the under apron isn't really necessary if you wear the kilt fairly snug.

**truckie561** · 14th August 12, 05:42 PM

OK. Two more pics. The first pic is the apron edge/profile of, what is now, the under apron.
The second pic is the apron edge of the top apron. I think we have this figured out...tell me what you think.

Shaped

Not Shaped

**The Wizard of BC** · 14th August 12, 07:31 PM

These last two pics do indeed give us the answer.

There are three things that pop out at me and tell me that this kilt has been altered at some time in the recent past.

1) The width of the white or cream colored lining. This piece of fabric is normally 6" to 8" wide. On this kilt that appears much narrower now.
It also appears that the fabric is different behind the two aprons, white in the top photo and cream in the bottom photo. The cream is standard and probably part of the original.

2) The position and placement of the two straps. The straps are significantly lower than they would usually be on a kilt of this vintage and issue. The top strap would normally be placed approx. 2" to 4" below the waistband. The Lower strap is positioned on the apron facing only. This is very unusual. The lower strap would usually be mounted to the apron interfacing and covered with the lining.

3) The biggest give-away is the apron tapering. In the top photo you can clearly see the taper to the apron. This taper is absent in the lower photo. The tapered apron would normally be the outer apron.

If we go back to the original photos of you wearing this kilt I am still convinced that this kilt is too small for you. The outer apron should overlap the under apron completely.
I am also convinced that for some reason this kilt was altered by someone who is not a kiltmaker and knew little about the internal construction of kilts.

I am pretty sure this kilt could be put back to its original configuration quite easily. You will most certainly need to have the stabilizer and interfacing replaced. You will need a new lining. The straps and buckles seem to be worn but serviceable, but it would not cost much to replace them.

All in all you have a good kilt. The fabric and original construction seem to be good with many years of life still in the kilt.

I would estimate that labor costs to repair this kilt would be in the $150.00=$200.00usd range.

**truckie561** · 16th August 12, 05:33 AM

100% on everything Steve. Once I reversed the aprons, I discovered that the kilt is in fact a size or two too small. At its current length, the kilt is 25" long. Due to my height, i typically wear a 22" length. I'm hoping that when it's shortened from the top that it will make up the difference in the waist so that it will fit correctly. Again, thanks Steve for the professional advice. And thanks to everybody else for the compliments and suggestions.