Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Tartan pleating options ...

**Scout** · 15th August 12, 03:46 PM

I'm about to pull the trigger on one of Rocky's "Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial" tartan kilts and would love to see some options pleated to the stripe.

Does anyone among the rabble have an example they could post?

Many thanks.

**Chas** · 16th August 12, 10:27 AM

Hi Mike,

I always advocate pleating to the sett, for the simple reason that you already know what it is going to look like. I think one of the saddest sounds in the world is "It's nice, but maybe if I'd gone with ..."

If you like the tartan, why hide it?

Regards

Chas

**Scout** · 18th August 12, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chas

... I always advocate pleating to the sett ... If you like the tartan, why hide it?

That's pretty much the way I see it too, but I'd at least be interested in seeing some options. I'll choose pleating to the sett unless I see something I definitely like better.

**Jon Lilley** · 19th August 12, 07:19 AM

Hi Scout,

Pleating to the stripe is one heck of a lot faster & easier than to the sett. You don't have to work out pleating to the sett or worrying about disappearing lines, etc. If you've got the fabric and some pins, just pick a stripe and start pinning. The more you pin, the better an idea you'll get. You only need to pin a few inches to know if you're going to like it or not. I usually pin a number of different stripes just to see what catches my eye. I usually end up going to for the most dramatic contrast to the apron by choosing the most dominant contrasting stripe. Make sure you're working in a well lit area, too. Some of the intermediary colors tend to muddle a bit and it can be hard to tell.

Hope this helps,

Jon

**Scout** · 19th August 12, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by MacIllfhilidh

... Make sure you're working in a well lit area, too...

Thanks Jon, but I can barely sew on a button. The only work I'm going to do is click the mouse to tell Rocky what I want!

**cable scot** · 19th August 12, 09:42 AM

I'm a "to the stripe" guy. I like breaking up the look of the kilt a bit,and I love when you get a flash of color in the pleats as they swing.That will not work with all tartans but it's cool when it does.

Andy

**Jon Lilley** · 19th August 12, 02:21 PM

Just got a look at your tartan 'Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Tartan' (very nice, BTW!) and I'd ask your kiltmaker to center the light blue stripe in the navy element, or put the light blue stripe in the navy element on the right edge of the pleat. That way, the back will be darker than the front AND you'll get something of a flash. It won't flash any lighter than the lightest blue, but it'll flash a bit. If you center the yellow/dk blue stripe elements, you'll get the dreaded 'lawn chair effect'. Not the best, but it's still pleated to stripe.

Kilt making ISN'T sewing (as in dress making), but you do have to be able to hold a needle & thread without doing too much damage. It's not all that difficult, but it IS a lot of work!!!

Have fun with it!

Jon

**gremlin078** · 31st August 12, 12:37 PM

I'll be interested to see pics of this as well.I'm saving my beer (ouch

) (but not my ammo

) money for the exact same kilt.

**rmccool** · 31st August 12, 08:42 PM

I have a kilt in the LE Officers' Memorial tartan pleated to the gold stripe, and I love it. I wore it to work for the first time today, for a co-worker's "going away" lunch (he got a better job), and received nothing but compliments from my co-workers -- and a rather cute waitress.

The back of the kilt definitely looks different from the front, but I really like the look. I sent Scout photos previously, but if there's interest, I'll be glad to post them on the forum as well.

If you're a cop, or support those of us who are, or just like the looks of tartans with a lot of blue, the LE Officers' Memorial is a beautiful tartan. Rocky and Mac do great things with it in their semi-trad kilts.

**OC Richard** · 5th September 12, 05:59 AM

Here are photos of one, pleated to the gold

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-tartan-66802/

All things being equal, I always prefer pleating to a line, or to a block. Military kilts have always been pleated to the line, and nothing screams "civilian!" like a kilt pleated to the tartan.

For sure if I were outfitting a Police Pipe Band wearing that tartan, I wouldn't consider pleating to the tartan for one minute. The only question would be which part of the sett would be used for the pleating, the gold line in the lighter blue, or a line in the darker blue portion. I would probably go with the latter, because 1) the back of the kilt would have a nice dark look and 2) when you walked the pleats would swish and reveal the bright blue underneath.

The military Royal Stewart piper's kilts are made that way, pleated to a dark portion, so that when the pipers march the brilliant red can be seen showing from underneath.