kilt advice..

[PIPER IÑAKI]

ith:
every 1 know what is the best way to sort a long kilt??cut the waist?hemp it??hot water??

[piperdbh]

I've read that you can cut some of the length off the bottom, or you can pull the threads out one at a time. The best thing to do is take it to a kiltmaker and see what he or she recommends.

[Monkey@Arms]

I've read that you can cut some of the length off the bottom, or you can pull the threads out one at a time.

I don't believe that is the recommended way to deal with a too-long kilt. I would think a lot would depend on the type of kilt and method of construction (which the original poster failed to mention.)

If you use the search feature you will find many posts about shortening kilts. They can be hemmed (a blind stitch is recommended), or depending on the type of kilt taken up from the waist down. I believe that hemming is often suggested as the simplest and most economical solution.

Best regards,

Jake

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hemming is definitely the easiest, and least expensive option, although (at least to me) it never looks quite right or hangs as well as it should. On a scale of 1-100, Id' rate a hemmed kilt at 78. To "shorten" a kilt from the waist requires that the kilt be taken apart and virtually remade-- in most instances this is almost as expensive as having a new kilt made, although you do save something as you already have the tartan.

If it were me, I'd either buy a new kilt, or have the old one professionally remade in the correct length.

[Monkey@Arms]

I doubt you need to throw out your kilt and buy a new one (I note you are in Spain.) Here's what esteemed kiltmaker Barb T. has said in the past on this subject:

Just a quick comment on hemming. While a traditional kilt is not supposed to be hemmed, a kilt that is too long looks better hemmed than too long. We routinely put hems in the 16 oz kilts that are made for the younger band members who are still growing, and, quite frankly, when it's done well, you simply can't tell unless you walk up and feel the edge of the kilt.

So, I would never bother to take length off a kilt from the waist. I would turn up a hem (even in a heavy weight kilt), do it properly, and would bet you that you would never notice, even if two people were standing next to one another, one kilt with a hem and one not.

Hemming a kilt is a fairly quick job, but it's not just a matter of turning up a hem. You do have to take out the apron and underapron edges before turning it up, and you do have to turn up parts of the hem differently than others.

Cheers,

Barb

Best regards,

Jake

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Do what Barb says.

[PIPER IÑAKI]

thaks boys,,
definitively i'm not going to touch nothing,when i wear(up in the waist military style)) the kilt bottom it's just over the middle of my knee,but i think the right way to wear a kilt it's a bit higher on the knee,,??what do you thing?

[PIPER IÑAKI]

Sorry,

my kilt is a r.r.s,army kilt.i know this kilts wear up in waist but i dont know how up;;;

[Big Mikey]

If you are going to wear the kilt at traditional height (military), the top of the kilt should be just below the lowest rib. Wearing it as you were so the hem falls at midknee is acceptable.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Just a matter of taste, but, I do like the hilt worn "military" height (just below the bottom rib.) Also the middle of the knee is also a good length, often the recommended length when you measure for a kilt. Browse the site (using the search feature} for pictures, and you will see that most wear the kilt from about the middle of the knee to the top of the knee-cap.