If you need to make the waist 2" smaller...move the right hand buckle (or both if you have 2 on the right) 1 inch and move the left hand buckle an inch. The strap will go through the hole provided and connect with the buckle after all you did say that you could fasten the last hole on each side...you have at least 4 holes to deal with...and 1 inch relocation will be just fine. I did this with the first band kilt I was given. Since it belonged to the band I wasn't free to make extreem alterations... however I did move the buckles and that solved the problem. Of course I moved them back when I left that band and returned the kilt to the quartermaster.

In order to make the kilt hang right and look right the buckles on each side need moving otherwise the apron will be off center and look odd. Move each side the same distance. Hand stich with a thread that will not show much...I used a black on a Red MacLaughlin and it looked just fine..and the wide kilt belt covers it anyway (except the lower right hand buckle (if you have one.)