Hemming and Hawing

[BronxKilt]

It was suggested by a friend of mine that I have my UK's hemmed. When I first started wearing kilts I purchased 3 UK's off the internet (camo, workingman, survival) but they have fallen out of rotation because they are all about an inch to long. (UK short (21.5) is 1.5 inches too long; but I did not know that at the time)

She has offered to hem them "once she finds her sewing machine" and I was just wondering if anybody has had such a thing done? I am willing to take said kilts to a tailor for the modification, but I don’t know if the average tailor can do such a thing. I would imagine that they could, but I am hoping for some wise advice from somebody who has done the tailor rout in the past.

As always, any and all help is appreciated.

BronxKilt

[Rex_Tremende]

Seems to me that since the pleats are stitched at the fold, hemming them would be a bit of a challenge. If you were to hem the 1.5", you'd need to undo at least 3" of the permanent pleat so you can refold them with the turned-under portion of the hem tucked in and laying flat with a newly reversed fold. Otherwise, I don't think you would get very neat looking pleats.

After having tried on and purchased the short length, I will be buying all (if any) future UKs in short. I've decided to make my peace with the three mediums I already have. Yeah, they're a little long for me, but so what if they are? Since they are in a kind of class of their own, I can make my own style.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[pbpersson]

She has offered to hem them "once she finds her sewing machine" and I was just wondering if anybody has had such a thing done? I am willing to take said kilts to a tailor for the modification, but I don’t know if the average tailor can do such a thing. I would imagine that they could, but I am hoping for some wise advice from somebody who has done the tailor rout in the past.

Oh boy......I was trying to imagine what a Utilikilt looks like and then I remembered I'm wearing one.

Anyway, I am not a tailor nor do I play one on TV but you know how it is when you take your car to an auto rebuilding place and they fix it up so it looks exactly the same but it never quite works as well as it did from the factory? Well......something about messing with the intracacies of how the UK is put together concerns me.....unless she REALLY knows her stuff.

To me it looks like it would be really complicated but I'm a software developer so what do I know?

Now....if someone with knowledge of such things says it is fine and no problem then please ignore my words of "wisdom"

[Jerry]

Seems to me that since the pleats are stitched at the fold, hemming them would be a bit of a challenge. If you were to hem the 1.5", you'd need to undo at least 3" of the permanent pleat so you can refold them with the turned-under portion of the hem tucked in and laying flat with a newly reversed fold. Otherwise, I don't think you would get very neat looking pleats.

After having tried on and purchased the short length, I will be buying all (if any) future UKs in short. I've decided to make my peace with the three mediums I already have. Yeah, they're a little long for me, but so what if they are? Since they are in a kind of class of their own, I can make my own style.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

I don't have any UKs as of yet, but I do keep thinking about getting one. If you don't mind me asking, what is your height. I was 5'10" but with aging and a bit of middle aged spread, I have shrunk nearly an inch.

[Livingston]

There is a thread on shortening a kilt. Not sure where it is but I can look it up at home tonight. I printed it out since I have SWK Heavyweight that I am working on shortening. Got it about halfway done.

[Kilted KT]

being that each pleat edge is sewn on the UK, it will be a long and painful process to rip the existing stitches, shorten the length, re-pin each pleat, line up and check lengths on each pleat, re-stitch and re-press each pleat, then re-stitch the entire hem.

I don't envy you in your task.

[Livingston]

If you do want to try it, here is the previous thread that will give you some good suggestions.

[Pleater]

Having done alterations on some fairly complex skirts in the past it can sometimes be more effective to alter the waist edge.

Sometimes just undoing a couple of seams and narrowing the waist will lift the garment to a more flattering height, making the wearer look thinner as well.

I have not been able to examine a Utilikilt closely, but know they have a 'fixed' waistline, so it might mean removing all or part of a waistband and maybe putting in a join or fold, but it coud be a better alternative to working on the hem edge.