Pleat the kilt?

**NewPiperinNY** · 24th February 09, 05:06 PM

Hi... Second post here...

I purchased a phillabeg at the end of last year. I would love to have it pleted, but have no clue how to go about dong it. No, I don't have ANY sewing experience, so it wouldn't be me doing it.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Please move accordingly.

Thanks,
Tom

**ChattanCat** · 24th February 09, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by NewPiperinNY

Hi... Second post here...

I purchased a phillabeg at the end of last year. I would love to have it pleted, but have no clue how to go about dong it. No, I don't have ANY sewing experience, so it wouldn't be me doing it.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Please move accordingly.

Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I would need more infromation to be able to help.
What is the type of material; wool, PV, acrylic, cotton..?
How much material is there?
Is it a belted plaid and you have to do the pleats each time you wear it?

Cheers,

**NewPiperinNY** · 25th February 09, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Hi Tom,

I would need more infromation to be able to help.
What is the type of material; wool, PV, acrylic, cotton..?
How much material is there?
Is it a belted plaid and you have to do the pleats each time you wear it?

Cheers,

I have to pleat the kilt each time I would like to wear it. It is wool and the only kilt I have purchased so far. It is very 'christmas-y' in color. It is a phillabeg from Celtic Croft (wonderful people) there..

**ChattanCat** · 25th February 09, 08:01 PM

Ok, the good:
You have wool tartan material.
What is the length of the material? How many pleats do you put in the kilt when you pleat it? What is the sett?

**Barb T** · 1st March 09, 06:57 AM

If you're talking about using the fabric to make a kilt with stitched pleats, what you can do with it will depend on how much yardage you have. If you can split your piece (which I assume is 58" wide or so) to get 2 pieces each 2 yards long and 23-25" wide with a selvedge on one edge of each piece, you can make a 4-yard box pleated kilt. Matt Newsome and I wrote instructions for how to do this, and you find where to download them at

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/m...x.html?t=43498

These instructions are a supplement to The Art of Kiltmaking (which has instructions on making an 8 yard knife pleated kilt), i.e., you need the book for all of the instructions that aren't in the free download because they are the same for both types of kilts. You can buy the book at ttp://www.celticdragonpress.com, or you can just order it from Celtic Croft (I agree - great people!!).

The instructions in The Art of Kiltmaking are for an 8 yard knife-pleated kilt, but I'm guessing you don't have that much tartan (takes 2 pieces each 4 yards long and 23-25" wide).

**NewPiperinNY** · 1st March 09, 08:25 AM

Wow -- that's great -thanks!

**NewPiperinNY** · 1st March 09, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Ok, the good:
You have wool tartan material.
What is the length of the material? How many pleats do you put in the kilt when you pleat it? What is the sett?

I only tried it a couple of time following the details sent with the material. And that just didn't end well. So I don't know how many pleats or what the sett is... I am pretty clueless..

EDIT -- Ok.. it's a 6 yd, 24 in wide piece of material with a tartan like this

Distance of about 5" between the verticals.

**ChattanCat** · 1st March 09, 12:36 PM

The material look great. So the sett is 5" (measurement from the first with stripe in your picture to the third white stripe)
Need a couple of measurements: Waist (about the navel), Hips (widest part of your bum), and drop (your measurement from your navel to the top of your knee caps).
Cheers,

**NewPiperinNY** · 1st March 09, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

The material look great. So the sett is 5" (measurement from the first with stripe in your picture to the third white stripe)
Need a couple of measurements: Waist (about the navel), Hips (widest part of your bum), and drop (your measurement from your navel to the top of your knee caps).

Cheers,

W = 52 "
H = 48"
Drop = 22"

yup... I am a tubby... though on the way down (started a lisfestyle change in earnest.. though beer might get in the way)

I wonder.. is it possible to just have it pleted and put 2 belt loops, without putting side belts? That way it still sits like a philabeg (laying over the top of the belt). Is

**fluter** · 1st March 09, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by NewPiperinNY

I wonder.. is it possible to just have it pleted and put 2 belt loops, without putting side belts? That way it still sits like a philabeg (laying over the top of the belt). Is

Certainly: that's what Celtic Croft calls "cheater pleats." Probably the most straightforward approach would be to decide how you want to pleat it, pin it up that way, and run a couple of lines of stitching where the belt goes. if you like, add belt loops in a complementary color.

If you continue to lose weight, this would be easy to undo and redo at a smaller waist size, should you wish to adjust it.