Should I pleat to the sett, or to the stripe?

[davidlpope]

Pleat to the sett. It will look better with this tartan/color scheme.

[unixken]

Oh - and I'm not seeing where the dark edge stripes are coming from in the example on the left?

Are you talking about the thin green stripe? I mocked it up assuming a pleat like this:

[Riverkilt]

You don't say who your kiltmaker is. If you're dealing direct solicit their suggestions - then do it the way you prefer.

[mookien]

Ken: Ask your kilt maker to pin up a couple of samples of stripe pleating, so you can see what they will look like. If your kilt maker is not local, (s)he can send you pictures. I have done this before with great success.

I mildly prefer pleating to stripe, because then the kilt looks different in the front and the back - more variety. I agree with David Thorpe - if you pleat it to stripe, do so to the green (dominant) stripe. But, as David Pope has stated, this tartan will look great pleated to sett.

Finally, good luck deciding. It's a good problem to have.

John

[Jock Scot]

Its really down to you to choose, but I think pleated to the sett will show off the tartan to best advantage.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I have always liked pleating to the stripe, because of the contrast it created between the front and rear of the kilt. But in the end, it just boils down to your personal preference.

[creagdhubh]

I have always liked pleating to the stripe, because of the contrast it created between the front and rear of the kilt. But in the end, it just boils down to your personal preference.

***

All of my kilts are pleated to the stripe. I like the look much better than pleating to the sett and find the "swoosh" of the pleats to be all the more dramatic, especially when they reveal flashes of colour from the tartan deep inside each pleat. I recently placed an order with Barb Tewksbury for a new 8 yard kilt, knife pleated in heavyweight tartan from D. C. Dalgliesh and again, opted for pleating to the stripe. She took a closer look at the tartan and its colour scheme for me and we both decided which colour stripe would be the best option for pleating. Discussing these rather important factors directly with your kiltmaker is always a good choice and I highly recommend it.

Best of luck,

[unixken]

Lots of great input, from everyone! Much appreciated!

I've decided to stay with pleating to the sett, for this kilt, and will reserve "to the stripe" for a tartan I think might be better suited to it. I do love the earthy tones in this tartan, but feel that its a little too monochromatic to provide nice reveals and contrasts, and I should save that effect for a tartan that can really show it off. Thanks again, everyone, for the opinions and input!

[unixken]

I like the look much better than pleating to the sett and find the "swoosh" of the pleats to be all the more dramatic, especially when they reveal flashes of colour from the tartan deep inside each pleat.

I agree, and I've decided that this particular tartan doesn't offer a potential for such striking combinations as I too feel would be the objective when pleating to the stripe. This wont be my last kilt, and I'm certain I'll eventually have one that can make a much better showing, when pleated to the stripe. Thanks again, everyone, for your responses!

[creagdhubh]

I agree, and I've decided that this particular tartan doesn't offer a potential for such striking combinations as I too feel would be the objective when pleating to the stripe. This wont be my last kilt, and I'm certain I'll eventually have one that can make a much better showing, when pleated to the stripe. Thanks again, everyone, for your responses!

Cheers, Ken!