Adjusting Kilt Length? URGENT

[Barb T]

I have hemmed several of our band kilts recently. Just this morning, at a St. Patrick's Day Parade, our "dress and deportment" officer overhead me talking about hemming a kilt for one of our young pipers. He said, "Kilts can be hemmed?? Won't it make them look funny?" I challenged him to find the three kilts in the band that are hemmed. He couldn't find them. When I pointed them out, he had to pick up the bottom of the kilt in order to convince himself that there was actually a hem. And these are tanks - 16 oz Lochcarron tartan.

Done properly, a hem in a kilt is not noticeable.

And, to do it properly, you need to take out both the apron and underapron edges, turn up the hem, along with the extra that is turned up at the deep pleat and the underapron edge to keep them from sagging below the bottom of the apron, and stitch the kilt. The key is to fold only once and use a herringbone stitch, not a blind stitch. Baste the pleats before pressing, and press well but avoid letting the edge of the iron run along the line where the fabric goes from single to double thickness. That can leave a noticeable ditch.

[butch]

Some of the earliest kilts I got were a little long. I asked my mom about hemming the kilts, she said sure no problem as long as I pinned the kilt to the length I wanted. So I pinned and she sewed. No one could tell they had been hemmed. and I never asked if they could be hemmed I just did it. Very satisfied with the results. Sew "Just do it"

[Kiltman]

Barb is right, as she always is. I've seen many hemmed kilts. I even purchased one from Scotland that came hemmed. As Pleater says it adds to the swish if the fabric is light. There is always someone who is going to tell you you can't do it. I normally ask why? And if they can't give me a cogent answer I disregard the proclamation of these folks. Hemming your kilt is much simpler than getting a kiltmaker to redo it.

[csbdr]

Well, I OWN 2 hemmed kilts and will have another done soon, and I can tell you there is no adverse effect. BarbT hemmed one for me which was such a bargain on ebay it couldn't be passed up, and it is not noticable and has not effected the swing at all. If I remember correctly, Lady Chrystel hemmed one she made for me because the selvedge from Frasier and Kirkbright was pretty wonky. It too swings great! Much more economical than rebuilding from the top down, too

[NewEnglander]

When I ordered my last kilt (a casual from Burnett's & Struth) I thought I'd be able to deal with the more traditional waist height. But after trying to wear it for month or so I found that it just wasn't comfortable for me. I contacted B&S and they gave me two options: have them rebuild the top (for nearly the original cost of the kilt) or have them take the needed amount off the bottom (for $45 or so, I believe). Needless to say, I went for the latter option. The kilt is on it's way back to me, so I can't report on the final effect yet.
(I'm also in the same boat as many that can't wear the cursed "standard" 24" length of off the rack kilts. If SWK ever started offering a hemming service I'd buy one of their wool Blackwatch kilts. I just don't know if I'd trust my regular tailor to hem a kilt for me.)

[Deil the Yin]

When I ordered my last kilt (a casual from Burnett's & Struth) I thought I'd be able to deal with the more traditional waist height. But after trying to wear it for month or so I found that it just wasn't comfortable for me...

I agree that it is none too comfourtable supporting a kilt with sporran with your abdomen for more than a few hours (as opposed to actual hips), but where on earth do you wear the top of your kilt(s)???

[NewEnglander]

I agree that it is none too comfourtable supporting a kilt with sporran with your abdomen for more than a few hours (as opposed to actual hips), but where on earth do you wear the top of your kilt(s)???

It's most comfortable to wear my kilt (ie my USAK casual or UK mocker) at the height of my navel. The 1.5" rise above that with the B&S casual didn't work. It felt like it was riding up to my armpits when I sat down and gave my midsection a less than flattering barrel shape (a lovely description from my loving fiancee).

[Dixiecat]

that it is none too comfourtable supporting a kilt with sporran with your abdomen for more than a few hours

Just want to share a tip from the dance world. As you can imagine, dance kilts can go through many owners in their lifetime. To save on hemming or to make do for a few competitions waiting on that expected growth spurt, dancers may sometimes wear suspenders on their kilts to pull it up a few inches.

Suspenders can also aid in 'supporting' the kilt so that your abdomen doesn't go on strike. I believe some of the military kilts come with suspender buttons already sewn on due to the heavy weight of the kilt.

[BobsYourUncle]

I agree about suspenders. I wear suspenders with my military weight kilt, and it was such an improvement in comfort that I had suspender buttons installed in my lighter civilian kilts. I still wear a kilt belt, but I no longer depend on it to hold anything up, and I no longer depend on the kilt straps, either. Suspenders all around! Cheers!

[Barb T]

Just want to share a tip from the dance world. As you can imagine, dance kilts can go through many owners in their lifetime. To save on hemming or to make do for a few competitions waiting on that expected growth spurt, dancers may sometimes wear suspenders on their kilts to pull it up a few inches.

I know lots of dancers do this, but I have to say that you can spot a dancer wearing suspenders under a dance vest from a mile away. The suspenders invariably pull of the front of the kilt so that it "pooches" and doesn't lie flat across the front (kind of like farmer john pants). I would take the trouble to hem a dancer's kilt so that it looks better on, even if it's only for a few competitions. It's just not that big a job to hem a kilt.