Plse Advise re: hemming a Phillabeg

[davedove]

If I am understanding correctly, this is the phillabeg from Celtic Croft. If so, this is the untailored garment that you pleat each time you wear it and belt it on.

In this case, just pull up the kilt a little higher on the waist. Or, if you really don't want it any higher on your waist, just pull a little more of the material over the belt. You don't need to do ANY sewing.

[The Wizard of BC]

I also agree that the two kilts shown are being worn far too low for that style of kilt.

To find your natural waist, feel along the side and find the place just below the ribs where a small indentation will form when bending from side to side. That is where the top buckles should sit. The top edge of the fabric above the buckles will be higher and actually cover the short ribs in the back. In the front the top of the kilt will be above the naval by almost two inches depending on torso length. At the side the buckles will cinch into and sit very naturally just above the "love handles".

[Scratchy's Lass]

I could have sworn I took digital shots of the kilt's 'insides' - but I just checked and no, I didn't. I laid it all out on the couch and took pics before he got home from work the day it came in the mail, but didn't think to take pics of it opened up and such.

Scratchy ordered it with the pleats sewn in, it has a waist band, and side belted buckles and such. Here's their description of that from their site:

Cheater Pleats (Optional)

This is a nice convenience option. Your kilt will still look like you pleated it yourself, but you can take it off and put it back on any time you want to without redoing your pleats... What we do is pleat the kilt, then stitch a waistband inside to hold the pleats together. (Unless you select the strap and buckle option below, a belt will still be necessary to hold your kilt on).

I think I'm following ok..... until you talk about the hem vs. fringe edge aspect. I sure wish I wasn't such a dunce.

I won't be doing anything to it until we're in the same place again anyway, so maybe the adjustments that have been suggested re: wearing it too low proximate to the waist will be enough - won't know until I can fiddle around while he's wearing it (opps..... that's NOT supposed to sound bad)

I don't know how this particular kilt is made, but, if it has a lining, canvas, and stitched pleats, I wouldn't shorten it from the top. Much too much work.

But, you can't just turn up the hem and blind stitch it. The fringe edge with the facing is too bulky, and it will look ugly if you just turn it up and stitch it. So, that's where you need to do a little taking out. Just remove all the stitches that hold the fringe edge together up as far as you need so that you can unfold all the fabric at the fringe edge and lay it out flat. Turn up and stitch the hem. Then just refold the facing and stick the second fringe strip back in, and stitch it back together.

At deep pleat under the left edge of the apron and at the left edge of the underapron, it helps to turn up a little extra so that nothing sags and shows beneath the edge of the kilt.