Double buckles

[Liam]

A question to you kilt makers? I came across this web page recently and wondered if any of you ever do this?




http://www.thekiltstore.com/9356/pro...yard_kilt.aspx

[unixken]

That looks like a great preemptive idea, particularly for individuals who order kilts while actively dieting, or who undergo regular, predictable, seasonal weight fluctuations, etc., or for band kilts that tend to get passed on to other players in the future. Would beat using strap extensions.

[MacRobert's Reply]

In Scotland I have only seen this double-buckle arrangement on hire-shop kilts where the garment is designed to fit a variety of sizes and shapes.

[be da veva]

This is what I do with the third strap. This way, my kilt can fit me either slimer for summer or bloated for winter.

[StevieR]

In Scotland I have only seen this double-buckle arrangement on hire-shop kilts where the garment is designed to fit a variety of sizes and shapes.

Yep, I bought an ex hire kilt with a double buckle arrangement. It does allow for extra tightening of the front apron, but it is my understanding that the under apron takes the stress, so I'm not sure if any lasting damage could be done to the kilt? Anyone know?

[unixken]

An overly tight kilt would be of concern regardless of single or double buckles. But as I understand it, shouldn't a properly constructed kilt have stabilizer and interfacing components to actually take the stress, and not the wool itself?

[The Wizard of BC]

I have seen kilts, and had some come into the shop with these double buckle arrangements. My question has always been WHY? No one really changes shape so much, and so quickly, that they would actually need both buckles at the same time.

If you operate a rental fleet, or make regimental kilts like I do, a much better method is to close the left strap hole and put the strap on the inside of the kilt and the buckle on the left apron.
This way it is just a matter of a few moments to re-size a kilt. I can usually remove the left strap, and the right buckle, and have them sewn back on in the time it takes for the customer to finish the coffee I poured them.

If you are concerned about gaining weight I suggest you buy your kilt a bit big. Move the right buckle till the kilt fits. Then, if you gain the weight. you can let the buckle out as needed.

The thing you should watch out for when re-sizing a kilt is - Does the outer apron fully overlap the under apron on the right side?

In a perfectly fitting kilt the outer apron edge should meet the under apron edge exactly or overlap up to 1". If the under apron shows out from underneath the outer apron 1" it is usually not too much of a problem. (It just looks like another pleat) but any more than that and it becomes readily apparent that the kilt is too small.

The biggest mistake is that when moving a buckle most people (and many kiltmakers for that matter) sew the buckle tab to the outer wool fabric only. The buckle tab MUST be sewn all the way through and catching the interfacing and stabilizer inside the kilt.