Converting a suit coat to kilt use.

[Germankilter]

I am looking to modify a suit coat used for p@nts to kilt length. I have modified waist coats before, for reenacting but not a coat. Is it as easy as opening the bottom seam cutting the excess and redoing the seam? It seems to me that would be cheaper and easier then saving up for a coat made for kilts. I can find plenty of cheap starter material at the thrift store. Any help would be great thanks.

[jhockin]

by doing a quick search ( of this/ "DIY Kilt help and Accessories help") (search term : " DIY jacket conversion") & going to the older posts, I was able to re- find this 'older' post that is very helpful ( i.e.: lots of photos - i'm a visual learner):

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ternoon-45001/

should answer most questions

[Germankilter]

I knew I had seen the something useful, but I couldn't find anything. Just didn't hit the right search.

[James Hood]

And Star did it despite her sewingmachineophobia in three hours!!!!

Amazing!

Best of fortune on your jacket adventure.

[MacMillans son]

For me, there are a few simple, but important, points to hit when doing a conversion, or having one done. To miss them always screams "CONVERSION" to me as an observer. I guess that isn't inherently a bad thing, just not something that appeals to me. Since we usually agree that if it weren't for the lack of funds we would buy, or make, a jacket designed for the kilt from the very beginning, I think we should do our best to make them look as natural as possible.

First, don't make the radius for the sporran too large. The jacket will be worn open 99% of the time so you won't need a GIANT gaping open space at the front of the jacket. Second, be sure that the radius is just that, a smooth radius, don't make it angular. Third, make sure that the radius has flattened out and become the hem before it crosses the vertical line created by leading edges of the pockets (a 1/2 inch or so before is fine) When the radius bisects that point it appears that the corner of the pockets have been cut off. And last, make sure that the pockets don't appear as if they are miniature relative to the hem. In my opinion, it is better to have the jacket an inch too long in the back than to have the pocket flaps an inch too close to the hem. You can further increase this distance by raising the pocket flaps and/or shortening the flaps themselves. Sometimes just raising them up is not enough. I think that really tall flaps, that are out of scale to their distance to the hem, don't look right either.

Have fun with your project, and as you pointed out, you can make lots of prototypes without spending a lot of money.