Question for Barb, or any of the other fine kilt makers here

[Jerry]

I've been looking at the new 2006 Stillwater standards, and I've been considering one for more everyday wear. My kilt waist measurement always seems to fall between two sizes. My measurement seems to be 45 inches. The sizes are 44 and 46. Should I go with the 44 or the 46. All of my other kilts are 46 and they all seem loose to me even in the last hole on the straps to the point where I'd worry about losing them if I didn't have my kilt belt tightened. And, , is it easier to tighten the straps or make them looser?

[Colin]

I'm no expert by any means, but if the kilts are loose at 46, I would go for the 44 (or 42 if you plan on losing any weight).

[bubba]

Straps and buckles can be moved a bit to snug up the loose kilts.

[yoippari]

My problem was worse. I measured at 37.5 so I ordered a 38. I didn't realise that the kilt should be worn tighter than what I measured and that since that is the tightest hole I had no room to tighten it up. I can alter it by moving the straps and buckles around but for now I have just kept it on with a belt and overlapping the aprons more than they are supposed to. For me a 38 heavy weight would probably fit but a standard ('05 standard) is too big.

Depending on how you measured (squeezed the measuring tape a little or kept it just at what your gut sits at) I would go for the smaller one.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Jer, I would go for the smaller one, assuming that the 45 is a tru measurement. No, I don't mean that you are fudging, just is the 45 with the tape measure snug like you would wear the kilt or just touching your body and in a way that would cause the kilt to fall off if wirn similarly?

I would encourage the smaller size. I have yet to get a kilt too small (well, actually I have but thats another story), but my Scottish National is a 42", with me being a 41" waist (and maybe closing on 40") and it is too large. Even on the smallest strap setting, I need to wear a belt. I plan on moving the straps when I am off over the holidays because I really love the tartan.

Hope this helps.

[GlassMan]

My problem was worse. I measured at 37.5 so I ordered a 38. I didn't realise that the kilt should be worn tighter than what I measured and that since that is the tightest hole I had no room to tighten it up. I can alter it by moving the straps and buckles around but for now I have just kept it on with a belt and overlapping the aprons more than they are supposed to. For me a 38 heavy weight would probably fit but a standard ('05 standard) is too big.

You were just subconsciously adding in the amount of weight you'll gain over the holiday season!

[switchblade5984]

i would say if you are a 45 go for the 44 due to the fact the straps alow for a 1.5 inch expansion but remember it is hard to make a small kilt bigger than a big kilt smaller.....

[Ranald]

My problem is similar only My waist is smaller, but I decided to go that one inch larger and move the straps.
I think Barb T says that you can make a kilt smaller but not larger, that being said this was my reasoning behind a larger size.
Good luck with your next kilt.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Stillwater Kilts are sized with the buckles closed completely. There's a couple inches of "play" to work with in the waist size. If you order the larger one, you won't be able to wear it unless you tuck-in a couple sweaters. Go for the smaller and wear the straps in the second or third notch.

Rememeber that there are straps on the right AND left side. You can let-out the right side and wear the left one in a different notch-spot. The under apron will take-up the minimal slack, and you'll be able to adjust the sizing to a wonderful fit.

NOTE: ALWAYS remember that the "hip buckle" (lower one on the right) is NOT worn tightly. Leave it loose so that you don't tug on the aprons. By wearing them tightly, it only curls the under apron... makes the kilt bunch-up... and makes it feel very ill-fitted. This goes for all three-buckle kilts.

[Barb T]

I think Barb T says that you can make a kilt smaller but not larger

It's possible to make a kilt both smaller or larger. If a kilt is too big, it is a relatively simple matter to move the apron edge buckles and the underapron strap so that the kilt fits tighter. If a kilt is too small and needs to be made larger, on the other hand, it's a big project that involves taking the kilt partly apart and remaking the the apron, underapron, and first pleat on both sides. The reason that you move the buckles to make a kilt smaller but take it apart and re-do it if you need to make it much bigger is explained below.

Here's something I posted last week in Kilt Advice:

If a kilt is too small, it is _really_ obvious, because it's not just a question of where the buckles are. If the kilt is too small, some of the underapron shows along the fringe edge of the apron, and it looks dreadful. On the other hand, if a kilt is too big and you move the buckles over a little so that the kilt can be buckled tightly, the apron will overlap the pleats a little, but, unless someone looks _really_ closely, no one will ever notice.

One of our band members has lost 70 pounds, and she's still wearing the same kilt. I've now moved the buckles and underapron strap over _5"_, and it's still not noticeable. Granted, the apron is proportionately a bit big, and the center back stripe isn't centered anymore, but you really have to look to notice. In the case of a few of our band members who have "gone the other direction", shall we say, even 1" too small shows 1" of underapron, and it is really glaring.

So, I always say have a kilt a little too big and move the buckles and straps if you need to, rather than risk having one that is even 1/4" too small, where the underapron would show and look ugly.

Below, I've posted a few pics. The first two show kilts that are too small and have the underapron showing. Ugh. The third one is _way_ too big and has the buckles moved so far that the center back stripe is way off (the double pale blue stripes). But, unless you look closely, you're not going to notice.

BTW - the first two kilts are modeled by dancers who not only outgrew their kilts around but outgrew them in length as they got taller. Both kilts had had the hems let down, but neither had had the pleats stitched down farther. So, on both kilts, the bottom of the fell (the stitched part of the pleat) falls well above the max curve of the butt (which is where it should fall). These kilts were made properly for shorter girls, but each of them grew about 5", and that's another odd-looking aspect of these kilts. With the rule of thumb of the fell being 1/3 the total length of the kilt, lengthening a kilt 3" means that the fell _should_ be stitched down an extra inch on all pleats. In reality, young dancer's kilts are sold and re-sold, with the hems going up and down like the stock market, and virtually no one bothers to stitch fells when lengthening a kilt unless a dancer is going to keep the kilt.

B