How do you work out a seat from a kilt?

[KyleAisteach]

I'm not a kiltmaker, but there's also a very rough technique we use when desperate in costuming. Get the individual in question to pose for two photos, one straight on and one full profile. Shoot them with a normal lens (about 50mm for 35mm cameras and the DSLRs that imitate them; otherwise the zoom setting where the field of view in the photo most closely matches what you see with your eye without looking up, down, or to the side -- neither wide angle nor telephoto). Then calculate the ratio of the measurement you know to the measurement you want in both photos. Average the two ratios, and then run the math with the known measurement.

So, for example, in the front view the waist might look like it's the same as the seat for a ratio of 1:1. In the side view, the seat might be larger for a ratio of 1:1.2. So the average is 1:1.2. If the known waist measurement is 40, the seat measurement will be around 44.

Again, I can't emphasize strongly enough that this is very, very rough. I've never been on a show where we've had to use it and didn't have to do alterations when we actually got the actor -- though, to be fair, we tend to build large and alter on set when we're not certain. I'd use this only as a sanity check since you have a garment to measure.

Of course, the logical followup question is are you expecting the individual in question to wear this new kilt and look good in it? If it's a gag kilt, a rough idea of the seat will probably be close enough.

[KiltFitz]

Thanks for all the input.

It's not a gag kilt. But there is a gag involved. As a present, it will really work only if presented as a surprise since there will be several expectant contributors here. Basically, he will be given a tartan tie with the message we all pitched in to buy it. Then his kilt will come out as we watch him try to put a smile on it. As will several people he is not expecting. We're Glaswegians, we have that kind of humour.

There will be no gift certificate since, as a holder of trade accounts with all the major mills and with my own access to kiltmakers, I will be supplying it at cost price. I have had kilts made before to good effect. Two for a member of this forum in fact. For this reason, no-one else will be involved in taking measurements but me. I measure approximately 100 - 150 people a week for kilts and I know him very, very well so I have a very good idea of what it will be, I basically need confirmation of what I suspect.

I could present him with the cloth only. It was agreed that would be a nice present but given the crowd that are going to be there and the nature of the event, the gag kind of relies in sending him off to put it on. We would also like great photos of him in the kilt to keep as a memento. If I took measurements for a kilt off him without a very, very good excuse, he would smell a rat and guess pretty quickly that a couple of dozen people are actually, unbeknownst to him, travelling several hundred miles for his birthday party while he is on holiday.

Help so far has been excellent as I expected here. Thanks again everyone.

[Barb T]

Just saying, would have been helpful to know all this up front.

[KiltFitz]

Just saying, would have been helpful to know all this up front.

Ha ha ha, fair point.

The stuff about making my own kilts I wasn't too comfortable about because not a registered advertiser on here and I don't personally make kilts although I do retail them as an employee and on my own. I haven't ever mentioned this here because I feel it would be wrong to use this place without paying for that exposure. Didn't approach the kiltmaker at my workplace as we have an agreement about how to avoid conflicts of interest.

Still, very grateful for your advice as this is a personal project and a very deserving recipient.