Can a kilt be lengthened?

[Evestay53]

I need some advice. I have found a used kilt for sale. It is a 16 oz. wool. The gentleman now has MS and is selling his kit. He is 5'10" tall. I am 6'1" tall. The total length of the kilt is 22-3/4". That's also the same length from the center of my knees to my belly button. Will this kilt work for me? Can it be lengthened if necessary?

[Barb T]

The only kilts that typically have hems are ones made for children who are Highland dancers. A gentleman's kilt virtually never has a hem, so there's no way to lengthen most kilts.

A well-made kilt is designed to ride 2" above the waist (that's the "rise"). The kilt should be shaped, therefore, to be biggest at the hips, tapering toward the waist (which is at the center of the apron edge buckle prong), and then flaring a bit toward the top of the kilt. If you wear the kilt with the top at your true waist, it won't fit very well, because the smallest circumference of the kilt should be 2" below your waist, when, in fact, your body is bigger below your waist.

If you want to buy this kilt, you should find out if you can try it on and return it if it doesn't fit right.

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm going to second Barb's post above and expand on it just a bit if I may.

First - You need to find out where the smallest part of your kilt is. This is at the center of the top straps and buckles if the kilt is made as a full traditional style kilt.

OK, how do you tell? Simply fold the kilt in half and look at the back of the kilt where the pleats are sewn down. Do you see some reverse flare at this point?

Here is my full traditional style Tewksbury kilt. You can plainly see the reverse flare above the top buckle.



This is where you take your measurements from.

Now measure from the outer apron or fringed edge across the apron - across the sewn-down pleats - to the edge of the under apron. No not measure the under apron. This is the waist measurement of the kilt.



Is this your waist size when you measure yourself up, above your naval right under the ribs? This is the location of your anatomical waist and is where a Traditional style kilt will cinch the top straps and buckles into.

OK, still with me? Now take a length measurement from your anatomical waist down to the top of your kneecap. This is your traditional kilt length measurement.

Now, back to your kilt. With a tape measure or even better a yardstick. Measure the length of the kilt from the center of the top buckles and straps, down to the hem of the kilt. This is the "drop" of the kilt.



Are the drop of the kilt and your traditional kilt length the same? If they are, this kilt will fit you. If not go find another kilt. There is simply no fabric you can use to lengthen the kilt. As Barb said there is no hem to let down and there is nothing hidden at the top under the waistbanding.

Sorry to be the bearers of bad news but a 22 3/4" long is probably going to be too short. I am exactly 6' tall and my Tewksbury kilt in the pictures above has a drop of 23" with a rise of 2" above that for a total length of 25".

[Evestay53]

Thanks Barb and Steve. I do see how this kilt for sale will be too short for me. I was a shot. You have given me an education for when I do order my first kilt.

[KyleAisteach]

Now am I the only one here imagining a kilt with a tassel fringe added to give it another inch or two?

[Todd Bradshaw]

Yes. We already get enough strange looks from the general public.... though it might reduce the tip vortices coming off of the bottom when swishing....making it quieter and easier to sneak up on someone.......

[Barb T]

HAHAHAHAHA - tip vortices....gotta love it.

[Steve Ashton]

Pleatlettes - Yea! The next innovation in kilt making.

[Evestay53]

I opened myself up for that, didn't I?

[unixken]

Yes. We already get enough strange looks from the general public.... though it might reduce the tip vortices coming off of the bottom when swishing....making it quieter and easier to sneak up on someone.......

Well, if a disrupted edge to the feathers is why an owl's flight is silent among the birds of prey... ;)