Murray of Atholl Stripe pleats

[usonian]

I know that the Atholl Highlanders' kilts are pleated to the stripe, per a few photos that can be found online and this previous thread, but my followup question for Peter or anyone else in the know is whether it's the plain red stripe or the one guarded with black; I can't quite tell from photos.

Thanks!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I would imagine it would be the red stripe on the green (the stripe without the black guards). To pleat to the red stripe (with black guards) on the blue would use an inordinant amount of material in each pleat, given the size of the sett.

[davidlpope]

Matt is correct, as ever.

[RockyR]

Anyone else confused why the pipers plaids in this pic:

1. Look to be Muted Murray when the kilt is Modern?
2. Are somehow folded on the Bias?
3. Have no pleats in them?

I'm not claiming to know everything about pipers plaids, but they're very different from plaids I've seen.

[SlackerDrummer]

Anyone else confused why the pipers plaids in this pic:

1. Look to be Muted Murray when the kilt is Modern?
2. Are somehow folded on the Bias?
3. Have no pleats in them?

I'm not claiming to know everything about pipers plaids, but they're very different from plaids I've seen.

Cause that's the way they've always done it?


source

[RockyR]

Cause that's the way they've always done it?

I was used to seeing the more 'contemporary' version... the fully and carefully ironed, pleated and sewn one:



Above images courtesy of the Tartans Authority.

And another courtesy of a google image search:

[SlackerDrummer]

I was used to seeing the more 'contemporary' version... the fully and carefully ironed, pleated and sewn one:

I know what you meant, Rocky. And I wasn't trying to be a pratt. It's just that apparently that is how the Atholl Highlanders have always worn them.

Technically, though, are they "piper's plaids" if worn by the regiment and not the pipers?

[creagdhubh]

Yes, just listen to Matt!

[usonian]

Thanks Matt, that makes a lot of sense. (Duh, I hadn't noticed the green background field when looking at photos.)

I hadn't gotten to test-pinning pleats yet, but this would probably would have become readily apparent when I did!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Most Black Watch variants, when pleated to the stripe, will be pleated to the stripe which appears twice in each sett. This is because the Black Watch pattern is so large. Often when mills weave it the sett size is on the order of 14" or more (though this of course will vary).

So, for example, this would mean the MacKenzie tartan pleated to the white line, the Gordon to the yellow line, the Robertson Hunting to the red line, etc.