Kilt sizing, how much adjustment

**Sillymike** · 14th February 11, 07:02 PM

OK, I've been going thru the various sizing post and tutorials... and I've pretty much figured out what I need...

Except for nothing is said about "adjustment"? As in, how much adjustment does a typical kilt gives you?

Will it be like pants, where I'll have my winter pants (size 32) and my summer pants (size 30)?

**Barb T** · 14th February 11, 07:18 PM

The answer to that really depends on how the person who took your measurements used those measurements in making the kilt and on whether you were measured at "summer weight" or "winter weight".

A kilt that is even 1/2" too small will be obviously too small, because the edge of the underapron will start to show along the fringe edge of the apron. On the other hand, if a kilt is even several inches too big, the buckles can be moved toward the center back of the kilt, and no one is going to notice that the apron comes a little farther around toward the back than it would if it fit absolutely perfectly.

So, if your weight goes up and down with the seasons, measure yourself at your heaviest weight, and ask your kiltmaker to put the buckles on so that they buckle in a hole near the end of the strap. That way, when you slim down to summer weight, you just cinch up the straps (which are typically a couple inches long), and you don't have to move the buckles.

BTW - here's a thread that I posted awhile back that shows just how good a kilt can look even if it is *way* too big and the buckles have to be moved to make it fit:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...oo-much-59745/

**CMcG** · 14th February 11, 07:41 PM

That is good to know!

I have a kilt that I got on eBay and it's a little too big. I've been wearing it with suspenders but if it will still look ok after moving the buckles and straps then I'll go for it. I was worried that it wouldn't look right after the adjustment...

**Barb T** · 14th February 11, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

That is good to know!

I have a kilt that I got on eBay and it's a little too big. I've been wearing it with suspenders but if it will still look ok after moving the buckles and straps then I'll go for it. I was worried that it wouldn't look right after the adjustment...

It will look a lot better with the buckles moved than it does with suspenders, which inevitably give a kilt a "farmer john" look in the front.

**MacMillans son** · 14th February 11, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Barb T.

It will look a lot better with the buckles moved than it does with suspenders, which inevitably give a kilt a "farmer john" look in the front.

I think for this crowd, that would be an "Old MacDonald" look Barb

**Barb T** · 14th February 11, 08:28 PM

Hahahahaha! Too true! Why didn't I think of that?

**Sillymike** · 14th February 11, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the quick response! I guess I'll go with my winter weight (size 33 kilt) and deal with the fitting when the summer comes.

Now I just have to decide on the type of pleats, whether I want a belt loops, the type of fabric, and which tartan to begin with... yep.

This ought to be fun!

**AKScott** · 15th February 11, 12:05 AM

I followed BarbT's advice in the thread you have already been linked to, it worked great.

I bought a used kilt that should have been 2" too big in the waist. I ended up moving both buckles three inches, taking 6" total off the waistband. The scary part was slashing the new strap hole on the left hip, but it wasn't that hard (I used my sgian dubh) and it came out fine.

Yes, get the belt loops.

EDIT: For the OP, give your kilt maker both your summer and winter waist measurements so you won't have to move the buckles back and forth twice annually.