Quote Originally Posted by frank_a View Post
So if I wanted a nice tank with small pleats, just figure to go with the 9 yard?
Just for the sake of correct terminology, a higher yardage kilt will have larger pleats with more overlap. They will appear smaller to observers, but they are indeed larger pleats. You can get lower yardage kilts with the same outward "small pleat" look, but it can only be done by cheating the overlap so that it's very small. And it would be difficult to do, depending on the sett size and such.

But yes, generally, if you're looking for what folks here refer to as a "tank", it will be an approximately 8 yard (varies as mentioned above), traditionally made kilt, hand-stitched, with all the necessary structural elements which make it virtually indestructible. It should last several lifetimes with reasonable use and care. A 4-5 yard kilt, and probably even a 6-yard kilt, would not be considered in the same category, even with excellent construction details. It's gotta have the yardage to be a tank! IMHO, of course...