Several weeks ago, I asked, was rejected and then convinced, my next-door neighbor to sew down the fell of an SWK Thrifty. The end result transformed that inexpensive garment into a much more usable one. The only problem is a slight tightness at the hips.

Wednesday, I ordered three more of Jerry’s Thrifties, and if history serves, they should arrive on Saturday. That's today for some of you.

I am going to attempt to use my wife’s sewing machine – when she isn’t home – and sew down the fell on each one of the new Thrifties.

I intend to put in a slight taper to three or four of the pleats on each side, at the hip, then, re-iron the resulting pleats.

My questions are these:

Regarding the taper - Does this sound feasible?

Or should I try to put a little taper in all the pleats?

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Has anyone done this before?

On one of the kilts, I am going to try and maintain the “reversible aspect of the Thrifty, and sew the fell by hand. Any hints for that?