MoD Kilt Hanging Strips

**xman** · 20th May 11, 01:38 AM

Can anyone provide any pictures (inside and out) and/or a detailed description of where and how the military ribbons are attached to MoD kilts?
The ones like those shown in this image:

I'd really like to give attaching a set a shot, but don't know how to proceed.
I'll guess and develop something if I need to, but I'd rather not reinvent the wheel if you know what I mean. I'm interested in how far back or front they usually rest in relation to the apron edges and how they extend from the lining. Also, if anyone can reveal how they are sewn in, that might be helpful too.

X

**Pleater** · 20th May 11, 02:46 AM

You need a fairly sturdy cotton tape to hang a kilt - they can weigh about 4 pounds in a 16oz fabric.

The tapes tend to roll or fold up so they would be wider than they look in the photo, three quarters of an inch maybe.

You'd want the suspension points to be just a fraction further towards the centre back than the exact fold point of the closed kilt on the smallest fastening hole. That takes the tension off the buckles and puts it onto the reinforced back of the kilt.

The tape looks to be surface mounted on the lining material. If you fold the tape double to make a loop you can hide the raw edges by sewing across the tape and right through all the lining and reinforcing layers with the tape below the join, then fold the tape up into its final position and sew across again enclosing the raw edges, then sew the edges of the tape for a couple of inches. You can shape the top and secure the tape into folds if you feel the need.

If you do not sew across the top of the joining it makes a small pocket into which could be placed one's busfare home, though folding money is best kept secure with a small safety pin, as it could work itself out and be lost.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Standard** · 20th May 11, 05:06 AM

A couple of my kilts have hanging loops. When I get home from work I'll snap a couple of pictures and post them. The loops on mine extend about the same distance above the kilt when hanging as do the ones in your example. The ribbon is not very wide, perhapse 1/4" if I remember correctly, it is no where near the 3/4" that Pleater suggested. I only hang my kilts for short periods by the loops, the majority of the time I use a normal clamp clothes hanger so as to not pull the kilt out of shape. Someone, I forget who, told me that the proper way to hang with the loops is to fold your kilt into thirds just as if you are wearing it. After that is accomplished fold the kilt in half so the apron is touching itself and the two loops are together. From this point you can hang your kilt on a peg or coat hook. I'll post photos when I get home for you to better illustrate this process.

**longhuntr74** · 20th May 11, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by Standard

Someone, I forget who, told me that the proper way to hang with the loops is to fold your kilt into thirds just as if you are wearing it. After that is accomplished fold the kilt in half so the apron is touching itself and the two loops are together. From this point you can hang your kilt on a peg or coat hook. I'll post photos when I get home for you to better illustrate this process.

This is my understanding of the intended use of the loops by the military...back when they would have hung their kilt on a wooden peg.

...and for the post OP...I can almost guarantee that none of the kilts in that photo you've posted are MOD kilts (The ones that you can see tags on all appear to be made by Chalmers of Oban...it appears that HRH is a loyal customer). I am pretty sure you already knew that and you were just using the pic as an example. Incidentally...this is one of the favorite pics that I've harvested off this site! It has been my desktop wallpaper a time or two.

**xman** · 20th May 11, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

If you do not sew across the top of the joining it makes a small pocket into which could be placed one's busfare home, though folding money is best kept secure with a small safety pin, as it could work itself out and be lost.

Thanks for the rest of it.

Originally Posted by Standard

A couple of my kilts have hanging loops. When I get home from work I'll snap a couple of pictures and post them.

Ta muchly.

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Incidentally...this is one of the favorite pics that I've harvested off this site! It has been my desktop wallpaper a time or two.

And interestingly none of the kilts appears to have a top band at all. They are simply carefully folded over to make a form fitting shape around the wearer.

**Paul Henry** · 20th May 11, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by xman

And interestingly none of the kilts appears to have a top band at all. They are simply carefully folded over to make a form fitting shape around the wearer.

If you look closely you will see they do indeed have a band of a plain fabric, it looks like some sort of satin cloth or ribbon, but because of hte way the kilt are hanging it has sort of folded inside the kilt.
Having a contrasting top band is very traditional ,infact some military kilts can be identified by their green edging.

**xman** · 20th May 11, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

If you look closely you will see they do indeed have a band of a plain fabric, it looks like some sort of satin cloth or ribbon, but because of hte way the kilt are hanging it has sort of folded inside the kilt.
Having a contrasting top band is very traditional ,infact some military kilts can be identified by their green edging.

Ah yes, I see. I was fooled by the taper in the wool above the waistline. You can see at the side some of the stripes disappear. Perhaps this is another illusion though. Also, what do you think the buttons in the naval position are for?

**Chas** · 21st May 11, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by xman

Ah yes, I see. I was fooled by the taper in the wool above the waistline. You can see at the side some of the stripes disappear. Perhaps this is another illusion though. Also, what do you think the buttons in the naval position are for?

I would have thought that they were for attaching a waist coat. The Duke of Windsor was known to be a snappy dresser and went out of his way to look good in public. With the waist coat and kilt connected together, it couldn't twist round out of alignment nor could it ride up.

Regards

Chas

**longhuntr74** · 21st May 11, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

If you look closely you will see they do indeed have a band of a plain fabric, it looks like some sort of satin cloth or ribbon, but because of hte way the kilt are hanging it has sort of folded inside the kilt.
Having a contrasting top band is very traditional ,infact some military kilts can be identified by their green edging.

Paul / X,
Wow...I was about to disagree in part...but in looking very close, I've identified some very unique aspects of these kilts.

They all do appear to have silk satin binding along the top...but ONLY the pleated portion.

Someone in a previous thread had made mention of how they aprons appear to be slightly contoured/curved along the top....it's slight, but if you look at the Royal Stewart kilt in front, you should note that the top edge in the middle of the apron is closer to the horizontal black stripe than at the side where the pleats begin.

Looking at how the ribbon is applied, this now makes absolutely perfect sense! The top of the pleats are not folded over, as they are bound with ribbon. However, in the front of the kilt, the kiltmakers fold over the very top of the apron and then stitch it directly to the lining with no binding...hence, the front of the apron is about 1/2" "lower" (for lack of a better word) than the back pleated portion which is bound in ribbon.

I can see some benefit in this style of construction...

With five to six layers of tartan along the top of the kilt, it tends to be a rather bulky edge...the thin bound silk ribbon eliminates that bulk and creates a much smoother and more elegant transition from shirt to kilt (which if you are wearing formal attire is always appreciated.
Additionally, a slightly lower cut and less stiff edge along the top of the aprons in the front would likely make bending forward slightly more comfortable and free versus having that doubled up thick ridge on both the apron and under apron there (I've noticed this most particularly on my regimental weight tartan kilt).

I may look at employing this construction style in the next kilt I make.

**Standard** · 25th May 11, 09:16 AM

Sorry for the delay. These are photos showing the hanging loops on one of my kilts. The loops are situated approximately at the point where the kilt would fold neatly into thirds. The loops are sewn in between the tartan fabric and the inner liner. The loops are made out of ribbons approximately 3/8" in width. These ribbons appear to be made out of fabric that has been folded in half lengthwise and sewed closed as seen most clearly in photo three. The loops when fully extended jut out above the kilt approximately 3". I hope these photos help.

Showing the loops as the kilt is splayed out completely on the floor.

A close up view of the location of the two loops.

A close up view of the lefthand (as the kilt is being worn) loop and the slot for the inner strap to pass through.

The kilt folded into thirds as it would be when worn with the hanging loops extended.

A close up view of the hanging loops projecting above the kilt.

The kilt folded in half with the pleats outwards in preparation of hanging.

The kilt hanging from its loops on the clothes hook on the back of the door.