Shortening a kilt?

[Paul Henry]

Kilts can be hemmed, and fairly successfuly, but that isn't the whole solution really one thing comes to mind is that the length off the fell stitching will doubtless need to be adjusted, otherwise the swing of the kilt will be affected.
Hemming by hand is slow but the result whould be fine, remembering that a good hard press on the inside so that the hemline isn't seen on the outside

[rtc872]

Give this seller a look (link). The kilts are knife pleats but good quality. I just bought one and there is a review for it on here as well.

[ChattanCat]

The seller, bugpiper, has been selling kilts and kilt related items for some time. Might want to ask him the particulars, waist, hips, rise above the waist.

Most kilts can be hemmed and you won't even notice. The wool really takes the crease on the bottom and the hem, if done correctly, won't be visible on the outside.

[Micric]

Woodshiel,

I was also looking at one of this seller's kilts at one time, but was put off by length.
Can you see on the pictures how far down from the top the buckles are?....give you an idea of rise.
I gather 4" rise is quite possible on an older military kilt, and can look fantastic!
Still, 28" sounds long!

Talking to my Bonnie wee pal over the big loch recently, she also said kilts are often hemmed. Quoted how her dad grew up in kilts, ...hand me-downs, first shortened, then lenghthened, etc.

[Pleater]

When I was dealing with costumes it was not unusual to find a raw edge where some previous last minute fitting had been done with the aid of a pair of scissors and the edge was becoming a rats' nest of loose threads.

There is a product which is a hot melt glue on both sides of a fairly fragile tape. It is usually one inch wide, but can be cut down into 1/3 inch strips and then a small hem turned up, pressed, and then the tape put in and heated under an iron to make a small neat hem.

If you wanted to remove several inches from the bottom of the kilt and make a speedy single fold hem that would be the way to do it.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Arlen]

I took mine to a tailor and asked for her to do a blind hem. Instead she just hacked the bottom on. Even with a raw edge seal (Which leaves a whitish stripe at the bottom of the Kilt) there are still fraying bits.
I'm currently looking for someone to do a retaining stitch the whole way around the bottom to keep it in check.

Good luck!

[Pleater]

Oh dear Arlen - you do seem to have had some bad luck.

A raw edge seal is a new one on me - but it might be something done on what we call an overlocker and the US knows as a serger - that is not a good way to do things.

How much length is there left to make a hem? I suspect not much with all that it has suffered.

Maybe it could be fixed using a satin ribbon, sew one edge of it just above that pale line, turn it over to the inside and sew it in place, so it takes the very minimum from off the length and covers those fraying bits.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Dixiecat]

When I was dealing with costumes it was not unusual to find a raw edge where some previous last minute fitting had been done with the aid of a pair of scissors and the edge was becoming a rats' nest of loose threads.

There is a product which is a hot melt glue on both sides of a fairly fragile tape. It is usually one inch wide, but can be cut down into 1/3 inch strips and then a small hem turned up, pressed, and then the tape put in and heated under an iron to make a small neat hem.

If you wanted to remove several inches from the bottom of the kilt and make a speedy single fold hem that would be the way to do it.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I'll have to disagree to this and whatever Arlen refers to as a 'raw edge seal'.

If you ever want the kilt hem to last and to keep it looking good, you should never use the above products.

Raw edges should be enclosed to both prevent raveling and to give a 'finished' look. This can be achieved in several ways:

-overcasting the raw edge, either by hand or machine. I would recommend hand overcasting as machine overcasting (serging) adds bulk. Then hem, but while sewing fold back the raw edge and do your stitching about 3/8" to 1/2" from the overcasted edge.

-hem tape - sew the tape to the right side of the hem, having at least half the tape extending past the edge of the hem. Basically, an overlap join. Then, fold the hem up to the inside at the desired length, press, then hem the hem tape to the kilt

-binding - using a folded hem tape or a double or single fold bias tape, enclose the raw edge inside the bias tape and sew. Then hem stitching through the bias tape.

Of all the above methods, I would choose hem tape of a colour that tones with the kilt. It is very thin, doesn't add bulk and keeps the inside looking neat. You can also use silk, satin or cotton ribbon as hem tape.

[Livingston]

Did you leave the edge "raw" or hem it? Certain wool fabrics will hold a raw edge quite well without fraying, but I don't know if that holds true for twill-woven tartan....

My apologies for not getting back sooner, it was a very busy weekend. I just folded up the material, no cutting. That way, when/if I pass this on to someone else that happens to be taller all they have to do is take out the stitching and re-press that part of the pleats.

[Bugbear]

I don't mean to make anyone angry or disagree by posting this, I just found the information in this very old XMTS thread interesting back when I was working on my own kilt.
Jimmy Carbomb's '"Tank" Hems and Professional Altering' http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/t...ex.html?t=9507
The information is in Jimmy's first two posts. I'm not saying anyone should do that, just that it was interesting information.