8 yards: when, and why?

**MartinGrenoble** · 10th January 10, 04:29 AM

Do any of the Scottish kilt-makers provide box pleats?
Or 4-yard kilts?

Martin

**ForresterModern** · 10th January 10, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by MartinGrenoble

Do any of the Scottish kilt-makers provide box pleats?
Or 4-yard kilts?

Martin

Yes, several do but there is generally an upcharge for box pleats compared to their standard knife pleats.

**fluter** · 11th January 10, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Yes, several do but there is generally an upcharge for box pleats compared to their standard knife pleats.

In that case, it's probably the military box-pleat, which is more in the 8-yard category.

**davedove** · 11th January 10, 10:41 AM

Well, if politics then was anything like it is today, it was probably the wool lobby that convinced the government they needed more material in their kilts.

**figheadair** · 11th January 10, 11:29 AM

If you purchased an 8 yard kilt, or more, get a tape out and measure the length. It's surprising how often they come up short and the kiltmakers are charging for a standard length but can't actually make it fit.

**ForresterModern** · 11th January 10, 12:07 PM

I measured about 8 of my kilts compared to their ordered length and actually posted it somewhere on a thread but cannot remember exactly where, a couple months ago. Some vendors were very efficient with their use of the alotted material (using 7.3 yards or more of material for an "8" yard kilt) while others were far less efficient (using 4.1 yards of material for a "6" yard kilt). I know that some of it is dependent on sett size and pleating choice, which may cause some limitations with shorter material length kilts but should not be as much of a problem with the 8 or 9 yard kilts.

I will have to look for my old post, or repost it if I can find my original data sheet (I weighed each kilt, measured sett sizes and number of repeats, overall length of material used including overlaps for fringe edges, etc.., number of pleats, and depth of each pleat).

Jeff

**ForresterModern** · 11th January 10, 12:17 PM

Found my original thread about the 8 kilts I measured and weighed:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/w...x.html?t=47233

My one 9 yard kilt used 8.3 yards of material, all of my 8 yard kilts used between 7 and 7.44 yards of material, and my one 6 yard kilt use just over 4 yards of material. That is the long and the short of it, pardon the pun.

jeff

**Squeaky McMurdo** · 13th January 10, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by MartinGrenoble

Do any of the Scottish kilt-makers provide box pleats?
Or 4-yard kilts?

Martin

Do you want a Scottish kiltmaker because they're Scottish or because they're more local than Matt or Barb?

If you want one more local I'm sure Lady Chrystel would be more than capable of making a 4 yard box pleat as she's rather talented at double box pleats.

--Chelsea--

**MartinGrenoble** · 13th January 10, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Squeaky McMurdo

Do you want a Scottish kiltmaker because they're Scottish or because they're more local than Matt or Barb?...

--Chelsea--

No, I'm not looking for a box-pleat kilt.
It is just that I have never seen any such kilts advertized by Scottish kiltmakers/suppliers, and wondered if they were regarded as traditionally Scottish in the homeland.

Thanks for your reply.

Martin

**MacBean** · 13th January 10, 01:10 PM

I have a 4 yrd casual B&S, but was recommended to get an 8 yrd hand-sewn. I hefted an 8 yrd kilt in Inverness earlier this year and found it HEAVY. So what's an innocent to do when buying an heirloom, formal kilt? I want a knife-pleat, not box; I have that much decided. I am not likely to use the kilt often.