Pleating and tartan comparisons

[puffer]

Matt Newsome has a nice section on his web site on box pleat kilts at

http://kilts.albanach.org/

The reason that you don't see 8 yards of tartan in a kilt like this is, as you'll see from Matt's website, because they are modeled after a very old style of traditional stitched-pleat kilt. A traditional box pleated kilt has a small number of wide pleats (7-9 or so, depending on the tartan). 8 yards of tartan in a knife-pleated kilt is actually a rather modern invention (more or less since end of the 1800s).

Someone else should talk about military box pleat kilts. I've heard several different stories about how they originally developed. Maybe Steve Ashton could describe the origin that he told me at Kilt Kamp a couple years ago.

Barb, THANK YOU.

I own a "traditional" style "box Pleat. It was custom made for me about 5 years ago, by Patrick @ N. Channel Kilts in Seattle WA ( http://www.nckilts.com/about.php ) I wanted a kilt that would be "historically" accurate for 1812 to early 1820s time period.

Some Specs:
1. "Black Douglas" Tartan #1029 (family)
2. 13oz wool ( Because @ that time it was to be worn with a Heavy wool vest & "wool" 1812 Militia uniform Jacket, Patrick designed for me from a print of a distant rel.) He felt 16 oz would be tooo warm.. BTW this kilt has been "regulated to "semi or dress wear"
3. 4-5 yds
4. High Waist ( above lower rib )
5. Box pleats - 10 & 1 3/4" wide
6. Hand sewn
7. NO straps - BUTTONS (thanfully it still fits.)

Here are pictures.




Puffer

[Rob Wright]

Not the best pic but here is my Douglas Grey Ancient pleated to the stripe by Kathy Lare