How high is too high?

[chasem]

I'm with Glassman on this. That picture looks good, Rex. That height, or a slightly higher, would look great.

[NancyMan]

I agree that it looks most distinguished on you sir. My own kilts migrate from the top to the bottom of the knee. When I wore my perfectly custom tailored Freedom Kilt to my usual haunt two sundays past, the first comment I got was, "Love the mini!"

An alternative to hemming that I have indulged in recently on a couple of ebay won kilts is to run a double straight stitch round the intended hem length, cut the excess material off about a half inch below that and then pull out all of the horizontal threads. This gives you a fringe round the bottom and saves the expense or trouble of hemming. Definetely non-traditional, but cool.

Learn from the past but live in the present, I say. And kilt on, dude.

[Pour1Malt]

...
Wear that kilt just a little bit higher and you won't need to hem it at all. Plus, there is something just secure about having a garment belted at that level.

Rex! Dinnae hem thot kilt!!!

wear it an inch higher lad- it'll look greet!

look a oany o' my pics an ya will see ma kilt oover ma navel.... thot IS the richt way tae wear it...

[Freelander Sporrano]

Rex that kilt looks just fine to me. The lengh seems just like how I like it myself too. Congrat's

Ps I'm with P1M why bother hemming

[billmcc]

But, how high is too high? I read on another thread that something about military regiments wearing them high (and possibly giving genesis to the second strap). My new SWK actually sits somewhat comfortably with the waistband considerably above my navel - my body is sort of shaped that way.

Traditionally, the top edge of a Scottish kilt should be two inches above your navel. Go higher and it will be very uncomfortable.

[andyfg]

Rex, I agree with the others. It looks very well as it is. A little higher on the waist and it will be perfect. It would be a shame to hem it.

[Jerry]

I beg your forgiveness in advance; this post is a jumble of thoughts, in no particular order.

OK - so yee-haw, my SWK Standard pleated-to-the-sett Black Stewart 2006 was waiting for me on my front step when I arrived home from work today.

No, there will be no photos until I get the ensemble pulled together. I do not want to end up on the Dos and Don'ts thread!!

This is my first tank-like kilt, so we are getting to know one another. I am surprised, but not really, at the bulk in the back - tends to droop a little that way, but I guess that's really a solution to another problem. Regardless, it's more lively, has more motion, than any of my other four casual cotton or cotton-blend casual kilts. So I see the difference.

This purchase was a test of sorts. I wanted to see if I liked the SWKs before I purchased a heavyweight shadow in black or saffron wool, to test the sizing, quality of workmanship, etc. The size that I ordered worked well enough (I'm an in-between size), and as I've been wearing it this afternoon, it seems to want to stretch and I want to cinch it another hole on the straps (this is a good thing!) I have no issues with the workmanship.

What I do have an issue with, however it its length. I know that I'm going to have to hem it an inch at least. But if I hike it up enough, it's almost suitable, with the bottom edge skimming just slightly below the top of my knee - a comfortable length for me.

But, how high is too high? I read on another thread that something about military regiments wearing them high (and possibly giving genesis to the second strap). My new SWK actually sits somewhat comfortably with the waistband considerably above my navel - my body is sort of shaped that way. With my wide UK belt, I can keep it there. I mean, it's not an empire waist, but it's higher than most kilts in photos that I've seen posted here.

Second, since I anticipate that I will need to hem this thing, someone mentioned on another thread how to do it, using (I think) a hidden catch stitch. I tried searching for that thread without success. Could someone repeat the information or give a vector to it? I would like to find more information on how, exactly, to execute that stitch.

Thanks for your interest and support,
Rex in Cincinnati.

Rex, I recently visited the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, and had Matt measure me for a kilt. He showed me that the actual proper place to wear a traditional kilt is right at the bottom of the rib cage.

[auld argonian]

Rex, I recently visited the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, and had Matt measure me for a kilt. He showed me that the actual proper place to wear a traditional kilt is right at the bottom of the rib cage.

That's comforting....the Stillwaters that I have are tucked up aboot midway between my navel and the bottom of my rib cage...now bear in mind that I'm aboot 5'10" and that keeps the hem just at the tops of my kneecaps and it's oddly comfortable in that position...it certainly never feels like it's slipping down; it just feels like it's in the right spot.

Now if you had asked me "how high is too high" about thirty years ago, I would have had an entirely different answer.

Best

AA

...did I use the word "aboot" back there...that P1M is having a definite effect on my typing!

[Pour1Malt]

That's comforting....the Stillwaters that I have are tucked up aboot midway between my navel and the bottom of my rib cage...now bear in mind that I'm aboot 5'10" and that keeps the hem just at the tops of my kneecaps and it's oddly comfortable in that position...it certainly never feels like it's slipping down; it just feels like it's in the right spot.

Now if you had asked me "how high is too high" about thirty years ago, I would have had an entirely different answer.

Best

AA

...did I use the word "aboot" back there...that P1M is having a definite effect on my typing!

guid oan ya auld argy... yur nay sae daft arr ya?

[beerbecue]

The fit looks good to me....

I thought this thread was going to be about something else entirely...... :rolleyes: