A long tale, but worth the read especially for newbies...

I'm a newbie at this only having my kilt since December. I read everything I could before buying one and then purchased a hand sewn kilt from a reputable local vendor here in town. Then I read everything I could on wearing it to include buying "So your going to wear the kilt" by Charles Thompson. My kilt was actually made by Burnett and Struth in Barrie, Ontario.

I've had a nagging problem with it since the beginning which involves the two pleats on my left curling outward. I posted the problem on a few forums and got several replies. I tried the suggestions put forward, thought that the problem was solved but it came back. The longer I wore the kilt, the more the pleats curled outwards.

I brought it back to the store where I bought it. They took a few pics of me wearing it with the curled pleats and sent them and the kilt back to Burnett and Struth. A month later it came back but the problem remained. The vendor said that this sometimes happens and there is really nothing that can be done about it. To be fair, they were very nice about it.

But I was not happy with the situation. So Barrie being a little less than 300 miles from where I live and having friends there that I could spend the night with, I decided to go to Burnett and Struth directly. I called and spoke to a professional kilt maker called Marguerite with the sweetest Scottish accent this side of the Atlantic telling her about my problem and that I would arrive Thursday afternoon. She said that she would be expecting me.

When I got there, she looked at the kilt, stitching, etc, to make sure that it had no design or manufacture defects. She really knows her stuff. After she explained to me some of the intricacies of kilt making, she had me try it on.

Sure enough, the two pleats on the left were sticking way out. When I came out of the dressing room, she immediately said: "You'rrrrre wearrrrring the kilt to low! The belts should be above yourrrrrr hip bone." She then adjusted the kilt higher up on my waist and presto, the outward curling pleats sat nicely in place!!! Problem solved in about 5 seconds.

The only problem now was that the kilt was about an inch and a half too short. She promptly told me that she would call the vendor and explain the situation. She vanished and re-appeared 5 minutes later saying that the vendor was going to provide me with a new kilt. She then took my measurements to be sure it was done right this time. The length of my kilt was 20 inches but it should have been 21 1/2.

I cannot recommend Burnett and Struth in Barrie Ontario enough. They are highly knowledgeable and very friendly people. Their store is stocked with all items imagineable for men, women and the wee folks. A tip of the hat to Marguerite and her staff for making my experience there a memorable one.

So the moral of my story is this:

1- make sure whoever measures you for your kilt knows what they are doing.

2- educate yourself and know HOW to properly wear the kilt.

3- if you think you can't afford a good hand sewn kilt, save your pennies until you can.