Yet another pleating question

[The Kilted Chef]

Hamish, are the Breachens sewed down as well!

Larry

[Mychael Sporrano]

Hamish, are the Breachens sewed down as well! Larry

I also wonder how well the lighter fabric KA uses in their Breacons stays put in regard to holding pleats and not flying about in a breeze?

I have considered trying one, but in my opinion they are expensive given that they come in stock sizes instead of being custom fitted. Last month, I contacted Stillwater Kilts about a pair of garments for the wee ones, in the process thinking I might get one to try out for myself. When I mentioned my measurements [33"/84cm waist, 40"/101.5 cm seat], Jerry wrote me that my measurements fall outside the proportions for which his kilts are designed, suggecting that I would probably have trouble with any premade kilt. So, it makes me leary to try any kilts that are off the peg, so to speak.


Mychael

[Hamish]

Hamish, are the Breachens sewed down as well!

Larry

Oh, yes, Larry! The Kinloch Anderson Breacan's (my apologies for correcting your spelling!) pleats are stitched waist to hip as on a traditional kilt. They are machine-sewn however.

[Hamish]

Hamish, are the Breachens sewed down as well! Larry

I also wonder how well the lighter fabric KA uses in their Breacons stays put in regard to holding pleats and not flying about in a breeze?


Mychael

Hi Mychael,

I have never had any particularly noticeable problems in that respect.

On a slightly different tack, however: this morning I drove to a neighbouring town to get a haircut (no-one in Storrington can do it properly!). I was wearing my new camouflage 8yard kilt and, as I walked across one of the narrow mediaeval streets, a gusting eddy of wind caught the heavy cotton kilt and lifted the whole thing to waist height - I was not wearing a sporran this morning either!

That is the first time that I can ever remember being so totally exposed - front and back - by the wind. I have no idea whether anyone saw what happened - there were plenty of people about - but it did not faze me. I simply smoothed the kilt back into place and carried on walking! As I have said before, "There is nothing new under the sun!"

I guess that gust was strong enough to have done the same to ANY kilt I might have been wearing.

[GMan]

Ham,

A true gentlemen! Glad to hear that the wind did not get the best of you!

[Mychael Sporrano]

I guess that gust was strong enough to have done the same to ANY kilt I might have been wearing.

You are most likely correct, sir. It sounds as though you handled it like a true gentleman!

I am curious about where you got your new 8 yard camo kilt. I am alos curious to know how well that nice looking denim kilt from kiltstore.net holds a pleat.

Mychael

[bear]

I must to say that I have yet to see a kilt where this is not done. :o

Ham... it's pretty common on casuals in the States. I'm guessing that the makers find it more "flexible" in the hang, if there's nothing to bind-up in the hips. Simply taper at the waistband, then let the pleats "do their thing".

I know in designing the USAK Philabegs, that the sewing-down of the hips not only kept the thing looking a little more "authentic" but it tended to make the pleats "keep their place" and not curl out.

Hopefully, those that make the kilts without the sewn-down hips will educate the group?!

That includes the kilt companies that haven't posted as of yet but are browsing.
"Wink, wink, nudge, nudge"

All of my kilt cuts, (classic cut, grizzly cut, raven cut), have not had their pleats sewn down and all the tapering was in the 3" - 4" waistband. Now with my formal cut, I'm starting to make kilts with sewn down pleats and a minimal waistband.
The unstitched cuts are definately more comfortable for active wear. For formal wear, a jacket can't foul pleats that are stitched.

[Hamish]

I am curious about where you got your new 8 yard camo kilt. I am alos curious to know how well that nice looking denim kilt from kiltstore.net holds a pleat.

Mychael

The Camo 8 yarder kilt came, like the 7 yarder denim, from kiltstore.net, Mychael.

As for holding the pleats, I have not yet worn the denim a great deal so, being denim, everything about it is still fairly crisp. It is certainly going to take quite a bit of wearing to break it in, but that will come with the arrival of the cooler autumn and winter weather. My estimation is that it will hold the pleats far longer than the Camo kilt, which I have worn quite a lot and I have freshened the pleats several times already. They are both really wonderful kilts and I am so pleased to have them.

[The Kilted Chef]

Hamish, are the Breachens sewed down as well!

Larry

Oh, yes, Larry! The Kinloch Anderson Breacan's (my apologies for correcting your spelling!) pleats are stitched waist to hip as on a traditional kilt. They are machine-sewn however.

No apology necessary, Hamish! I knew when I posted that the spelling just didn't look right. Now I know why! That's what I get for being in a hurry...

Larry

[The Kilted Chef]

Last month, I contacted Stillwater Kilts, when I mentioned my measurements [33"/84cm waist, 40"/101.5 cm seat], Jerry wrote me that my measurements fall outside the proportions for which his kilts are designed, suggecting that I would probably have trouble with any premade kilt. So, it makes me leary to try any kilts that are off the peg, so to speak.Mychael

Yeah, I know what you mean. My behind fills out the seat of my kilts as well! There is nothing like a custom-made garment that fits you and only you.

Larry