Big Men

[Prester John]

Here's a good question, maybe this isn't the right thread...

how does one alter a kilt to be smaller?

[Barb T]

If you don't have to take it in much, the simplest way is to move the apron buckles toward the center back of the kilt _and_ move the underapron strap toward the center of the underapron. You _don't_ move the underapron buckle. Moving the buckle that's next to the buttonhole doesn't actually change the measurements any. It's moving the underapron _strap_ that does the job.

If that won't do it, it's a pretty big job that requires removing the lining, taking off the top band, undoing both the underapron and the apron edges, taking off the canvas, undoing the deep pleat and the inverted pleat, making the underapron and apron edges smaller by exactly the same amount on both edge (to keep the center stripe centered), and re-making the kilt. When you're done, the measurement across the pleats will be bigger than it would have been had you made the kilt from scratch, and the apron and underapron smaller, but it won't be noticeable unless you're taking the kilt in by more than a couple of inches (an inch or so on each side).

Honestly, if you have to do more than that, you'd be better off selling the kilt and buying a new one that fits right. If you've lost that much weight, you might as well celebrate!

Barb

[MacConnachie]

6ft2in, and about 245 lbs., here. Waist size is 38-40, depending on who's doing the manufacturing. However, most people who learn my weight have no idea that it's that much, although I seem to be thickening about the waist, like many men my age.

I wear my kilts, typically, to the top of my kneecap, sometimes a bit lower. I wear three different tartans regularly which seem to look OK-to-better on me, those being the Red Robertson, the Mod. Hunting Robertson, and the Paisley District. Red is the least colorful, with 3-4 colors (is that black or navy?), Hunting has white and red stripes on blue and green, and Paisley is somewhat colorful, with lighter shades of green and blue as it is considered more the Ancient colors. I've recently acquired a Dress Gordon which is pleated to the stripe, and although I think it looks OK on me, I have only had it on in public once, and response from people who see me kilted on a regular basis seemed a bit less interested/enthusiastic. Cannot say for certain, but further experimentation would appear to be in order.

There was a kilt listed on eBay in the past day that might fit your brother, both in size and taste. Seemed a reasonable starting bid price, and lightly used, as well. Let me see . . .