Resizing a kilt

**cainam** · 5th May 14, 07:38 AM

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a beautiful Islay tweed kilt for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately it fits 41-43 inches around the waist and I am 36 inches. I know that it would be possible to resize the kilt but are there any compromises that have to be made for what would be a fairly large adjustment. Also does anyone have an idea regards the cost involved in such a process.

I've included a couple of pictures of the kilt.

Cheers,
Simon

**sydnie7** · 5th May 14, 08:24 AM

Here's a post from Barb T about moving buckles to resize a kilt.

**Orionson** · 5th May 14, 10:05 AM

Hi, Simon.

What a beautiful kilt. I love the colours of the tweed. As it is, without alteration, it likely would fit me quite nicely. I have a 40 inch waist. How long is it? I ask, because if you decide that it's too expensive to alter down to 36, or that the garment may be too compromised with cutting it down to size, I'd surely consider buying it. Just a thought.

Is it a district tartan? Beautiful.

**cainam** · 5th May 14, 11:40 AM

Hi Orionson,

I've no idea if it's a district tartan I'm afraid but the drop is 24 which is perfect for me. I don't actually own the kilt, I'm just in the process of buying it, just trying to decide if it makes financial sense. It really is a beautiful tweed and the straps which I have pictured below are a really nice touch so I'm fairly sure I'll give it a punt. If it doesn't work out I can put you in touch with the seller if you like?

Cheers,
Simon

**Orionson** · 5th May 14, 01:11 PM

Dear Simon,

I sincerely wish you luck with it. If you do however, change your mind, an introduction would be appreciated. I had noticed the straps and the buckles in the earlier photos - they do indeed add to the overall impact of this beauty. Exactly to my taste. I have no doubt you will wear it well.

Bon chance.

**WillowEstate** · 6th May 14, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by cainam

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a beautiful Islay tweed kilt for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately it fits 41-43 inches around the waist and I am 36 inches. I know that it would be possible to resize the kilt but are there any compromises that have to be made for what would be a fairly large adjustment. Also does anyone have an idea regards the cost involved in such a process.

I've included a couple of pictures of the kilt.

Cheers,
Simon

For what it's worth, I had a kilt reduced by 4" by a professional kiltmaker for just less than $100 Australian. That said, the kilt had a fairly narrow pleating set and only needed the aprons adjusting. As Barb says, you can achieve this by moving the buckles but when I tried that, it brought the front apron too far round for my liking and I was much happier with the apron shortened. If the pleats needed rebuilding, I guess it would cost considerably more.

**bonnie heather** · 6th May 14, 03:35 PM

This kilt is very handsome and it's great that the price is good. I don't know what a kiltmaker in Edinburgh would charge to alter it, but I think it's worth asking around instead of just assuming it would cost a lot.
You're lucky that you would need the kilt made smaller instead of larger. You wouldn't have the problem of not enough fabric. Also, since it is pleated to the stripe, that gives more possibilities than if pleated to the sett.

**David** · 7th May 14, 12:07 PM

I got my kilt "let out a little", well more than a little, last year. Cost me £80. That was the standard alteration cost. The company is in Glasgow.

**O'Callaghan** · 7th May 14, 06:50 PM

I altered a kilt myself, and I am no tailor. It's quite easy as long as you are making it smaller, and you will find instructions how to do it on this board.

That said, it sounds like you want to make it about six inches smaller, which is quite a bit. The one I did I only made about three inches smaller, and the only thing that looked 'off' afterwards was that the belt loops were no longer centred, which didn't really bother me enough to persuade me to move them as well. As a further sign of my laziness I removed the third strap, rather than move it, and now the right hand strap needs replacing, as it doesn't seem to have been designed to take all the strain on its own (not good quality to begin with, IMHO).

Tighten the waist by twice that and I'm not sure what happens? Best speak to someone that has done that. I'm sure there are people here who have. I bet Barb has.

**cainam** · 8th May 14, 06:01 AM

Thanks for all the advice. It seems that it would have to be a complete rebuild as apparently the apron is not big enough to shorten so it really doesn't make financial sense to purchase the kilt. I've now decided to have a new kilt custom made in my choice of tweed. It could be a tough decision as there are so many beautiful tweeds to choose from but great fun all the same.