I did an Xmarks search for "hemming a kilt" threads (http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...earchid=538009) and after some reading, I still have a question/clarification or two which I would love to receive some guidance for.

Scratchy wants to have his Phillabeg shortened - (we probably 'over measured' when we did the measurements for his Phillabeg from Celtic Croft/Kilts-N-Stuff.) He's also lost some waist and such ;) since we measured and ordered this passing winter.

I have reasonable sewing skills both by hand and w/a home machine, and have made my own Renfaire wear so hopefully I can go a good job of the hemming. Yet, my brain starts to fog over when I read some of the particulars posted in other 'hemming' threads/posts. Specifically, would it be appropriate for me to carefully hand hem his Phillabeg along the bottom edge, or would I need to do similar disassembly-type steps of which I've read, in order to properly shorten it by hemming?

This is a picture from mid-winter (Northern Az) after it first arrived -



This is a picture from the CC/KNS website showing the type we ordered:


I think part of my confusion stems from mentally applying info like the excerpts below, as I'm unsure whether a regular hem would be fine. And, I find myself getting visually lost in my head re Barb's second paragraph below.

For reference:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...hlight=hemming
Hemming a kilt
04-28-2006, 08:13 PM

05-01-2006, 04:46 PM Reply by Barb T.
But, if you're going to do it right, you'll need to take out the apron and underapron facings and edges, put the hem in, then re-do the edges. If you don't, the apron edge in particular will look odd.

Also, turn up the first deep pleat to the left of the apron about 1/2" more at the point so that the point doesn't hang below the bottom of the apron, and taper the underapron hem from the center of the underapron to the underapron edge so that the edge is about 1" shorter than the rest of the kilt. That keeps the underapron from drooping below the apron.

And, yes. Don't fold the selvedge edge over. Just turn the thing up 3", and don't cut it off.

Barb
Reply by AtagahiKC (w/specifics re: hemming a Saltire Kilt)

Barb/Steve: Would it be better to reduce the length of the kilt from the top? I know it involves reworking the kilt and probably increasing the fell.

I'm wondering if preserving the selvedge edge at the bottom and the flatness is more important than the time to rework the kilt from the top?. . .
So.... am I making this more complicated than it need be insofar as I'd be shorting-via-hemming Scratchy's Phillabeg ?

Any suggestions, pointers, and guidance would be greatly appreciated. If I've miss an existing thread that's already on point, could someone point me in that direction?

Thanks!!
m