advice on pleating / yardage

**Taskr** · 29th July 16, 08:33 AM

As a customer, I would be concerned with "they will be very shallow". Sounds to me that would make the kilt appear skirt-like and not have the swish and sway. For the additional cost of .5 - 1 yd, the customer might be far happier in the long run

**Benning Boy** · 30th July 16, 01:02 PM

Figheadair's backside is seen in one of the kilt books covered by a kilt pleated to alternating stripes. I looks pretty good to me. I'd tell you which book, but the books are all in piles as we paint the library, and can't find the color pic on the computer now of it pic he sent me. But, it does look good.

**Dutch piper** · 14th August 16, 10:24 PM

Thanks for you thoughts on this subject.
I decided to go for the extra yardage and pleat to 1 stripe.

regards,
Tómmes

**Barb T** · 15th August 16, 09:30 AM

Just to add to the discussion - below, you'll see a pic of a kilt that I pleated to a yellow stripe with alternating green and black background color. This pleating was unavoidable because the tartan sett was nearly 17", and there was nothing that repeated twice per sett. I think it looks fine.

**Dutch piper** · 15th August 16, 11:14 PM

Yes Barb, that looks great.

But in my case I have a white stripe on a blue background, and a yellow stripe on a black background.
This will probably be to much difference between the pleats, but I should check in real life. See how it works.

What is your opinion about pleats being "only" 2" deep (because that will happen if I pleat to the alternating stripe)?

**Barb T** · 16th August 16, 03:59 AM

Yeh, I realize yours are different stripes on different backgrounds, and that would likely not look good. I just wanted to show that it's not impossible to have a nice pleating with different backgrounds. But, different stripes on different backgrounds would be unconventional enough that, even if I tried it and liked it, I would OK it with the customer before I did it.

I agree that 2" deep pleats are pretty skimpy. You have a big guy, and I agree with Steve that more tartan is a better answer than trying to get a kilt around him with only 8 yards.

One good solution to the weight of tartan on a big guy is to suggest a box pleated kilt. I've made a couple of box pleated kilts for a guy with 65" hips, and it takes about 6 yards. Not as heavy as a trad knife pleated kilt, and it looks good on a big guy because the pleats are wide and more proportional to his size than a lot of little ones.

**Dutch piper** · 16th August 16, 04:33 AM

Thanks for you clear answer.

I allready decided to pleat to 1 stripe and I ordered enough tartan for the job.

I never thought about the box-pleated kilt. And I like the idea but my customer absolutely won't go for that.
He's a piper (although the kilt is not for band-use), and I'm sure (read: I know) he wants his kilt in the traditional knife-pleat-version.