Triple box pleats?

[kc8ufv]

Just curious if anyone has tried an x-kilt, or other casual kilt, with triple box pleats?
I'm in progress of my first x-kilt, and my second one is going to have every pleat pieced togeather with the back panel being a different color than the outer part of the kilt. I had some length issues (bought 3 yards of denim before reading the xkilt manual) and figured out a way to hide the seam of two lengths of fabric in the pleat, just measured carefully, and have one inside "fold" stitched down.

I figure with similar size pleats, triple box pleats will about triple the amount of fabric used, and make the kilt warmer for the cool weather.

I would love for input on this idea, if I am crazy for even thinking of triple box pleats, or what.... I know there are people on here who do double box pleats...

[Alan H]

It's YOUR kilt. IF you want triple box pleats, then make 'em.

I wouldn't...I mean, if the kilt is not warm enough then make another one out of warmer material. The X-Kilt is supposed to be easy to make. That's the whole point, but again if you want to significantly increase the time needed and the degree of difficulty...

'cause you ARE going to sew down the edges of every single pleat-inside-a-pleat...right?

...It's YOUR kilt.

[ChattanCat]

I don't find that one kilt is any warmer than another unless you have a really light weight kilt vs. a tank, you might feel a little warmer. Manly, I find the weight (about 4 lbs for a tank) to be the most significant feature. With any kilt you will get air exchange under the kilt and no kilt can stop the air flow (open at the bottom and the pleats act as a fan).

Cheers,

[YoungMan]

I feel like triple box pleats would be a lot of fabric hanging in back. I don't know how that would affect comfortability while seated.

[Tobus]

I feel like triple box pleats would be a lot of fabric hanging in back. I don't know how that would affect comfortability while seated.

It would also be a nightmare trying to keep the pleats in order, I would think. Especially for fabrics that are easily wrinkled/crumpled. Once a triple-box pleat gets out of whack, it would be a serious pain trying to get it to hang right again. (That's pure conjecture on my part, of course.)

[Pleater]

Try military box pleats - like a normal' box pleat but one 'arm' is extended so you get extra layers - just how many depends on how far you extend the arm - one box width and there are two extra layers, two box widths and you get an extra four. I don't usually do any sewing of edges - I don't sew any more than necessary to hold the kilt together at the waist, and if a hem is required these days I use the sewing machine rather than spend time hand sewing. when all the kilts are hanging up if would be difficult to tell which had the hours of hand sewing - but I have been using a sewing machine for about 50 years so I am not going to get any better now. I also join fabric at hidden folds to make up the required length. Frugality and 60 inch wide fabric tempts me to use all of it by cutting from selvage to selvage and making joins. I can usually make a kilt from three and a half yards.Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[kc8ufv]

So, something like this, Anne?

[Pleater]

There seems to be a problem with formating - I will try again.That is overlaping within the fold, not quite right.You still have the folds behind the visible panel >< , which is not right.Imagine looking down at the panel from the waistband.Make the first fold. I think you should take it right across the back of the panel as if it is only half the panel when pressed it will make a ridge. There are now three layers the width of the panel at the waist.Now the second fold can be as large as you like as it lies behind the first fold and can go on for two or even three panel widths.It makes the panel five thicknesses, but when you go on to form the next panel of pleats the long second fold from that one will give the first panel another two layers, so seven, and then the third panel of pleats could make it nine.This reduces the visible folds to the same as a normal box pleat, but puts lots more fabric into the kilt. Anne the Pleater :ootd:</p>