Pleating Choices

**Kent Frazier** · 12th November 07, 10:25 PM

I'm trying to decide between the casual and semi-traditional kilt. One thing I am curious about, is there a choice of pleating for either or both of these. I didn't see anything on the website about pleating to the set or the stripe.

Also, if choice is available, does there seem to be a preference of one more than the other. This will be my first kilt and I really can't decide which I would rather have.

Thanks,

Kent

**Moosedog** · 12th November 07, 11:23 PM

Hi, Kent, what tartan are you considering? That can make a difference. I'm sure the folks at USA kilts will be glad to discuss options with you.

Moosedog

**McMurdo** · 13th November 07, 05:02 AM

I am sure you can talk to Rocky or Kelly about how you want your kilt pleated, as Moosedog points out, it may depend on the tartan whether to the stripe looks good or even works. Having said that the to the stripe way of pleating would be traditionally a military way of pleating the kilt, this is not to say that a civilian can not wear a kilt pleated to the stripe, it really is your choice, in my case I always trust my kiltmaker whoever that is to make the right decision.

**Kent Frazier** · 13th November 07, 06:00 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention the tartan. Since this will be my first kilt, I want a Fraser tartan. I just haven't decided on the red or hunting. Right now I'm leaning toward the hunting, as this will most likely be worn mostly on casual occasions. I would like to start wearing it as much as possible, working up to daily.

Since pleating to the stripe is primarily a military tradition, I may just go with pleating to the set. I'll talk to the folks at USA Kilts. I would like to get a Black Watch tartan kilt as some point, maybe I could have that one pleated to the stripe.

**auld argonian** · 13th November 07, 07:15 AM

I'll tell you, I ordered a casual in Hunting Stewart from USA and wasn't too crazy about pleating to the stripe but that's how it came and it made a convert of me. Somehow it just looks right to me now...there's a distinction between the apron and the pleated area. I qualify this by saying that it seems to work best when there's a stripe that has strong contrast...mine is pleated to the yellow stripe, for example.

Whenever I've seen these combinations compared on the forum, there have been two ways that it's done: by computer and when someone just photographs the actual material pleated in different ways. Of the two, the photos of the actual material is much more helpful.

Best

AA

**RockyR** · 13th November 07, 08:03 AM

Here's a rule of thumb that I carry over from putting lights on Xmas trees...

Look at the tartan and squint your eyes...

Is there a single strong color that seems to jump off the tartan at you? If yes, I generally can pleat it to that stripe. If not, them pleat to sett.

Fraser Hntg... the Red really jumps off against the dark brown and blue and green. I usually pleat it to that stripe.

The Stewart Hntg: The red AND yellow jump out, but the Yellow is brighter and jumps out more, so I generally pleat that one to Yellow if anything. I find that when we pleat it to the Red stripe, the yellow is overpowering and makes horizontal lines across the pleated section.

Ireland's National: Not much really jumps out by ITSELF on this tartan, so we normally pleat it to sett.

**Nighthawk** · 14th January 08, 12:56 PM

What about box pleating? I'd love to have a box pleated Clergy tartan kilt. I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't gotten around to it. I was waiting until I order my kilt from you, but I thought I'd ask here since it seemed appropriate.