There is also the 'doesn't feel right' factor - I was making up my first kilt in heavyweight tartan, and found that it really was too much, so I took out about a yard of material and it was a lot better like that. It meant that the visible portion of each pleat was slightly larger, the difference in appearance was very slight but the alteration in how it felt was significant.

It no longer felt as though I was wearing a bustle, and is more balanced front to back.

I have made a kilt using half sets in order to reduce the amount of fabric, so making more pleats but shallower ones arather than fewer deep ones.

A lot depends on the tartan, its weight and the sett size, as that could make well over a yard difference in the amount required to make the same size kilt.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: