Downsize a UK?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Steve,

Thanks for chiming in! I can see doing it your way for the amount of fabric you were trying to remove, but how about for smaller adjustments? I am only looking at 1/2" - 1". Taking out both pleats would make it too small. Do you think the following would work:

Cutting the waistband above the back center seam
Rip the stitches from the waistband to the pleat back to the next pleat on each side
Rip the center seam where the cloth is joined
Make the reverse pleat deeper on each side by equal amounts (this will mean a smaller reveal on the pleats at the center, but they will still be symmetrical)
Overlap the waistband
Stitch the waistband back to the pleats
Stitch the waistband together with the stitches centered over the back center pleat.

Seems like it would take a similar, or less time, preserve the fabric for future growth, and look fine. The only drawback being that the you could only un-overlap to mae it bigger to a size slightly smaller than the original waist size.

[The Wizard of BC]

If I can suggest another method.

If you only want an inch or so, don't rip the thing in two. Leave the center seam intact. Remove the top stitching from the two "out" pleats and the two "in" pleats that make up the reverse box pleat at the center.

rip out only enough waistband to be able to turn it inside out.

reduce the amount of "reveal" of the two center back pleats and iron new pleat edges. re-Top stitch these.

then stitch the two pleats you just re-topstitched back down to the center seam in the Fell area.

Then iron new "in" pleats from the back and re-topstitch them.

Mark the amount of waistband that needs to be removed and turn the waistband inside out. Cut out or iron flat the excess fabric leaving enough seam allowance to sew it back together.

sew the waistband back on and your done.

This method leaves all the fabric intact in case you ever need to make it bigger.

It should only take an hour or two.

[Eujeankilt]

If I can suggest another method.


rip out only enough waistband to be able to turn it inside out.

Mark the amount of waistband that needs to be removed and turn the waistband inside out. Cut out or iron flat the excess fabric leaving enough seam allowance to sew it back together.

Steve,

Thanks for your time and expertise on this. I follow your logic on this but I don't quite understand what you mean by turning the waistband inside out. Are you saying fold the waistband under a bit (pushing from the sides toward the center) to account for the extra fabric? Sorry for being dense.

Dale

[The Wizard of BC]

Your not dense at all. It's my writing. I'm trying to condense what should take and entire chapter of a book and put it in one of these little squares.

What I was trying to explain is a method to take in the two back pleats without cutting the fabric.

It's basicly re-folding the pleats. You can start the modification by marking the two rear center pleats. With a washout chalk marker, draw a line 1/2 inch from the edge of each pleat. This will decrease the total measurment by 1 inch.

This inch must also be taken out of the waistband. By un-stitching just enough, you will be able to turn the waistband inside out. That creates a fold of fabric that you have to get under the foot of your sewing machine. Stitch a line 1/2 inch from the fold. Then when you turn it back to right side out, your waistband is also 1 inch shorter.

OK, there will be a slight bump in your waistband. The two rear center pleats will also be slightly smaller than the rest. But hey, if you ever gain the weight back you can reverse the process. You haven't cut anything.

[The Wizard of BC]

The reason I'm double posting here is to offer a word of explanation.

I like UK's. I own UK's. I wear UK's. Everybody stop accusing me of "Dissing" them. I'm not trying to start a firestorm here.

The fact is, UK's are not a custom made garment. That is not something wrong, and I'm not saying it is.

Some people can buy off the rack and look great and some will always need to alter what they buy off the rack.

I'm simply trying to offer the original poster of this thread an option to make his UK fit him better if that is what he wants.

I'm done posting on this thread. I offer my apologies to anyone who takes my posts as a negative comment.

[bubba]

Steve, I didn't see anything negative at all in your posts. Don't sweat it.

[Eujeankilt]

Steve,

Thanks for the explanation. It's kind of what I thought, but I just couldn't visualize it.

FWIW, I didn't see any negative connotation to your posts. In fact, IMO, you (and Barb) have been the most helpful and responsive kilt maker on this board, for those of us wanting to try our hand. I know you try to make a living doing this and you take time away from making money to offer assistance here. It is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dale