Elements of a sett

**Dixiecat** · 26th January 10, 01:28 PM

I am consoling myself with not being able to go to Elsie's course by starting on the kilt I was going to work on if I'd been able to go: my daughter's new dance kilt in Dress Saskatchewan.

I'm endeavoring to identify the elements of the sett which I always have problems with so here's a pic in order to solicit some opinions. So, opine away!

**fluter** · 26th January 10, 10:32 PM

What does her waist/hip ratio look like? If she's still boy-shaped, it becomes easier.

With more taper, I want to think about it.

Pretty tartan, though.

**Dixiecat** · 27th January 10, 08:33 AM

If she's still boy-shaped

If she was still boy shaped, she'd still be wearing her old and very beautiful Christina Young kilt.

Don't have the mmts with me here at work, but I seem to remember that there's a 5" or 5.5" taper.

**Mark Keeney** · 27th January 10, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

I am consoling myself with not being able to go to Elsie's course by starting on the kilt I was going to work on if I'd been able to go: my daughter's new dance kilt in Dress Saskatchewan.

I'm endeavoring to identify the elements of the sett which I always have problems with so here's a pic in order to solicit some opinions. So, opine away!

I am no expert but, wouldn't it be easier to taper if the lines (left to right) 1, 4, 9 and 12 were centered in a pleat instead of the edge.

**Dixiecat** · 27th January 10, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Mark Keeney

I am no expert but, wouldn't it be easier to taper if the lines (left to right) 1, 4, 9 and 12 were centered in a pleat instead of the edge.

I thought of that, but it makes the center of the green block very wide.

**herminator** · 27th January 10, 11:30 AM

I believe if you have to taper it much the red stripes will disappear. This would not look good!

**ChattanCat** · 27th January 10, 05:12 PM

Determining the best representation of the sett depends on the sett and the elements. For instance, on some tartans I had to split a line, like your yellow line. Talk about needing to be accurate with the number of threads one each pleat!

You need to know the pleat size. Lets say the pleat size is 3/4". Then start with a dominant stripe and see if it fits without losing an element as you taper up.

Lets start on the white line on the left, it will probably pleat nicely.
Does the black line fit in the 3/4"? If not then you may have to split the black line and use some of the white on the second half.
You will probably need a white pleat next.
then maybe the red/yellow/red. It all depends on the sett as you want to get close to the real set size of the tartan with the pleats in the back. These don't need to be exact, just a good representation of the sett (yes, kilt-makers option)

Try it!

**Barb T** · 29th January 10, 09:09 AM

Yup - we need some info on the sett size before we can give you good advice.

**Dixiecat** · 1st February 10, 12:52 AM

Sett is 5 1/8" from white stripe to white stripe.

**ChattanCat** · 1st February 10, 05:35 PM

5 1/8" is a small sett. You need to determine what your pleat reveal will be. Let's say 3/4" at the hips. You need to determine what the taper is going to be, assume 27 pleats? Look at a pleat, does an element disappear? If so, then you need to adjust the pleat elements. You can align a pleat along an element's edge to use the other side of the pleat to taper.