Hemming a Tank

[Colin]

Thanks for the tips guys. I didn't even think of having the top of the kilt altered. I'm just not sure hacking 3" off the top will look right.

I'm a little leary of having a kilt hemmed, because of the reasons that you both listed.

I know that the kilt is an incredible deal, but do you think it might be worth is just to wait and get one made to the right dimensions? Maybe that would give Colin the right excuse to get his "tank".

Don't tempt me there Rufus. You know I was looking at that same kilt, and I would ony need about an inch lifted. I personnally think you should go for it. You have wnated a tank for awhile, and this is a screaming deal. I would be all over it had I not just gotten a new kilt yesterday.

[Casey]

I had to do the same thing with the Flower of Scotalnd that I found. I am hoping that, with the reputation they have, Burnett's & Struth will do a fine job.

Casey

[Rufus]

I had to do the same thing with the Flower of Scotalnd that I found. I am hoping that, with the reputation they have, Burnett's & Struth will do a fine job.

Casey

Me too Casey, me too. I went ahead and told them that I want the kilt, and Colin found me a great deal on a day jacket on their site. It's listed as a navy blue day jacket, but I'm waiting to see if it's an argyll jacket, and what it's made of. They told me they'd sell me the 16oz handsewn and the jacket for $575CAD! Comes to about $450USD for me. About what I was going to pay for just a tank!

PS - if anyone needs help convincing themselves that they need a new kilt and more, just contact Colin. He's great at it!

[Canuck]

My Wifes family have bought a number of pleated scottish skirts from this company and all are hemmed. They still have a good swish to them.
I have also altered a number of kilts for the Scottish shop in my home town. I was asked to shorten them by hemming them up. The kilts had already been hemmed at the factory in Scotland. (These were 4 yd kilts mind you) I steamed the hems with a vinegar water mixture to help set them. The kilts looked great and swished like they were supposed to. If done properly it can work and to the average Joe you couldn't tell. How many of you walk around with binoculars and magnifying glasses to check out your fellow kilt wearers have a selvedged edge or not.? ..... right! so I don't think there will be a problem.
Have fun with the new purchases guys. I'm sure they will wear very well!
Cheers
Robert

[Rufus]

Thanks Robert! Posts like that are a big confidence booster in the item purchased.

You're right too. Even when I was looking at all of the kilts at the celtic festival a few weeks ago, I didn't look at the selvedge edge. I'll even be brave enough to commit kilt blaspheme here: I don't really know what a selvedge edge is! Shhhh! Instead, I mostly noticed the swing, and the quality of the cloth.

[RockyR]

Ok based on some of your posts about stillwater kilts, I am reconsidering my view on buying one but here is another problem. The kilt is way to long and they do not recomend cutting it off, but hemming with a blind stitch because of the weight of the fabric. From your posts here, sounds like hemming ain't a good idea.

Ok then what to do? ...

[Casey]

Just received mine, hemmed by the maker, and it looks absolutely great.

Casey

[Colin]

I had to do the same thing with the Flower of Scotalnd that I found. I am hoping that, with the reputation they have, Burnett's & Struth will do a fine job.

Casey

Me too Casey, me too. I went ahead and told them that I want the kilt, and Colin found me a great deal on a day jacket on their site. It's listed as a navy blue day jacket, but I'm waiting to see if it's an argyll jacket, and what it's made of. They told me they'd sell me the 16oz handsewn and the jacket for $575CAD! Comes to about $450USD for me. About what I was going to pay for just a tank!

PS - if anyone needs help convincing themselves that they need a new kilt and more, just contact Colin. He's great at it!

Hey, leave me out of this. .I was hoping to scare you off so I could buy it just kidding.

I did have a thought about the hemming last night though. If this was a rental kilt, it may be hemmed already, so that the length can be changed quickly. So it may be a moot point anyway.

JohnAllen,
Rufus is talking about hemming a traditional 16 oz wool kilt. The weight of a stillwater (to my understanding) will not even come close to this. Kind of like apples and oranges. A still water kilt is also a different material, which may hold a hem very well. From what I have heard they are very good kilts at a very affordable price.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Ok based on some of your posts about stillwater kilts, I am reconsidering my view on buying one but here is another problem.

JohnAllen,

Stillwater Kilts, as Colin so pleasantly put it, are not the "tanks" that we describe when we're speaking of "Traditionals". They may have the pleating, the buckles, the hidden stitching for hips, and the lining... but they're not the same.

THEY CAN BE an alternative to a "tank". The look from the outside is very nice, and quite a few guys really like theirs. The price is acceptable too. For the price, you're actually getting a fair deal. I have one and consider it a formal kilt!

Honestly... I wish that the companies that make these things would just term them as "FORMAL" like we used to do at USAKilts. It's MUCH more honest and doesn't anger anyone when the kilt arrives.

Who doesn't understand the difference between
"Casual": alternative material, modern design, varying pleat depth.
"Formal": alternative material, more traditional in design and construction.
"Scottish Traditional": wool, traditional sewing, traditional construction, traditional patterns, traditonal materials, consciencious quality.

~Note: these are terms that you'll hear in MANY shops and in many Authorities. They're NOT arbitrary or an XMarks "thing".

[mcnice]

most of my kilts are hemmed, and the difference is for me quite minimal. the pleats stands well and are not crsipy.
but if there is another solution i would get my hand sewn in this way, to stay traditional ;)