Shortening a kilt?

[Woodsheal]

Unless he is quite tall, I'm pretty sure a 28 inch kilt is going to have excessive rise. Seems to me the army kilts I have were 25 inches for heights 5'11-6'0.

Shortening it will take some care I think....if it is like mine, it is very heavy wool.

I'm 5' 8.5" tall, and my "regular" kilts are 22" in total length. I'm thinking a military high-rise should be around 24" in length - max! - for my height.

[muirkirkca]

I have had a couple of PV kilts lengthened ( re-hemmed ) by an expert tailor for about $15 CDN. Final result was great. Nothing like asking one for advice. Only proceed if you feel comfortable with their response.

[Cygnus]

I know Lady Chrystel often hems the kilts she makes, and Barb T. has mentioned that a number of her band's kilts are hemmed and that you can really only tell the difference by handling the kilt.

So, if it's done well, I'm sure there won't be a problem.

[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:

[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.

[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!