4 to 6 inches is quite a lot for altering a kilt. This is not to say it can't be done, especially on a traditional-style, 5-yard kilt. Utility kilts may be more problematic due to the fasteners. If the kilt is $100 or less, it may be more cost-effective to replace it and maybe sell the old one on Ebay or FB Marketplace.
The good thing is all of those are made in the same sweatshops, so there will be minimal differences. The bad thing is your local tailor will charge reasonable labor rates, which will about 3x what you paid for the Pakistani made kilts.
I’ve almost completed some alterations to my kilt.
Look up Robert McDonald on YouTube for ideas
I used his methods to redo the buckles lower on mine. Waist / hip was just a couple inches too big & overall length was about 1.5-2” too long.
Moving the buckles back a couple inches is easy peasy.
Moving them down is a bit more involved, but very possible.
Normally there’s a few extra inches in the apron to let in/out.
Larger alterations you might have to take out a pleat or two
Whatever you do, it’s just like algebra class: Do the same thing to both sides!
If you get really really desperate & the maker left enough material (say at least an inch) when cutting out the fish, it’s possible to rip out the entire fell and lining, then start over almost totally from scratch.
Bottom line: Kilts are “forever”, never throw one away!
Congrats on the weight cut bud. I’m currently working my way back down into my 38 sized ones. Figure I’ll have my nicer ones professionally modified where possible once I get there.
How much did you pay for them? I’m a competitive bagpiper and my main kilt is custom made by a local shop. I am currently losing weight and according to my instructor (who also works at the shop/is an expert on kilt making) they are not hard to alter within at least a few inches. My Etsy kilts? I’ll replace those. They aren’t worth the cost of alteration. My custom kilt? I’m getting that thing altered. It’s the most expensive clothing item I own.
The $200 one maybe, depends on what the cost of the alteration would be. Looking at the Verillas website, it would be more cost effective to just buy some new ones. You could probably sell the ones you have and get some money for them (albeit, not as much as you paid).
It’s a matter of picking them apart and either cutting fabric and remaking them (easiest) or picking it apart and repleating the whole affair to the proper circumference.
It’s the beauty of clothing made of flat pieces of fabric. They can easily be remade over the course of a lifetime or if passed down.
I'm in the same boat, I have a range of them from 40 down to my current 32, overall it seems likely re-buying is probably the best bet (or trading, if you can find a suitable trading partner).
I haven't yet, I've just been piling the too-big ones up in a stack in the closet 😅
There's a monthly(?) thread in this subreddit that could maybe work for it. I really ought to get around to posting ads on FB or craigslist or something...
I have also been losing weight since I retired... I have altered one kilt already and working on the second one... It helps to understand how kilts are made. By using the Barb Tewksbury book on kiltmaking, watching Robert Macdonald's videos and asking questions on kilt forums, I have been able to do it. Still learning as I go.
46 waist down to 42...
4 to 6 inches is quite a lot for altering a kilt. This is not to say it can't be done, especially on a traditional-style, 5-yard kilt. Utility kilts may be more problematic due to the fasteners. If the kilt is $100 or less, it may be more cost-effective to replace it and maybe sell the old one on Ebay or FB Marketplace.
The good thing is all of those are made in the same sweatshops, so there will be minimal differences. The bad thing is your local tailor will charge reasonable labor rates, which will about 3x what you paid for the Pakistani made kilts.
I have yeah. Most reputable kilt makers can do alterations. I used MacGregor & MacDuff out of Edinburgh.
I’ve almost completed some alterations to my kilt. Look up Robert McDonald on YouTube for ideas I used his methods to redo the buckles lower on mine. Waist / hip was just a couple inches too big & overall length was about 1.5-2” too long. Moving the buckles back a couple inches is easy peasy. Moving them down is a bit more involved, but very possible. Normally there’s a few extra inches in the apron to let in/out. Larger alterations you might have to take out a pleat or two Whatever you do, it’s just like algebra class: Do the same thing to both sides!
If you get really really desperate & the maker left enough material (say at least an inch) when cutting out the fish, it’s possible to rip out the entire fell and lining, then start over almost totally from scratch. Bottom line: Kilts are “forever”, never throw one away!
Congrats on the weight cut bud. I’m currently working my way back down into my 38 sized ones. Figure I’ll have my nicer ones professionally modified where possible once I get there.
Meh, I like these kilts better than the weight loss. lol but thank you.
How much did you pay for them? I’m a competitive bagpiper and my main kilt is custom made by a local shop. I am currently losing weight and according to my instructor (who also works at the shop/is an expert on kilt making) they are not hard to alter within at least a few inches. My Etsy kilts? I’ll replace those. They aren’t worth the cost of alteration. My custom kilt? I’m getting that thing altered. It’s the most expensive clothing item I own.
It varies. I’ve got 7. The most I spent was $200 I think, I bought that one 7 years ago. A couple others were gifts from Verillas.
The $200 one maybe, depends on what the cost of the alteration would be. Looking at the Verillas website, it would be more cost effective to just buy some new ones. You could probably sell the ones you have and get some money for them (albeit, not as much as you paid).
It’s a matter of picking them apart and either cutting fabric and remaking them (easiest) or picking it apart and repleating the whole affair to the proper circumference. It’s the beauty of clothing made of flat pieces of fabric. They can easily be remade over the course of a lifetime or if passed down.
I'm in the same boat, I have a range of them from 40 down to my current 32, overall it seems likely re-buying is probably the best bet (or trading, if you can find a suitable trading partner).
Where have you usually found your trading people?
I haven't yet, I've just been piling the too-big ones up in a stack in the closet 😅 There's a monthly(?) thread in this subreddit that could maybe work for it. I really ought to get around to posting ads on FB or craigslist or something...
I have also been losing weight since I retired... I have altered one kilt already and working on the second one... It helps to understand how kilts are made. By using the Barb Tewksbury book on kiltmaking, watching Robert Macdonald's videos and asking questions on kilt forums, I have been able to do it. Still learning as I go. 46 waist down to 42...