Good Instruction for Box Pleats

[panhandlephillips]

I did a quick search on the fourms and don't think this has been posted before.

I came across this web page that give really good instruction (with photos) on how to make box pleats.

http://www.burdastyle.com/howto/show/185

[McFarkus]

Thanks, that is very clearly laid out.

[McMurdo]

from just east of you in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we do have many kilt nights in or around your area, take a look in the kilt nights section if interested, and look for SOKS events, SOKS stands for Southern Ontario Kilt Society

[Pleater]

It doesn't indicate how to shape them though - or even say that there can be shaping.

As long as people realise that it is 'stage one' pleating and not the way that a kilt is done, where the waistline might be 3 layers but the visible panel is made wider to widen the garment at the hips and the folds are narrower because of that.

[James MacMillan]

I don't sew, but I do have Barb's new book on order, and I think that even I now understand the box pleat thing better.

I have a Box (Ox) Pleat on order from Matt, and this will help me understand it better when the jonesing finally stops.

Thanks!

[Moosedog]

Welcome from the beautiful state of Oregon. Thanks for the site, you'll find this a great place to exchange ideas!

Moosedog

[way2fractious]

... where the waistline might be 3 layers but the visible panel is made wider to widen the garment at the hips and the folds are narrower because of that.

... or, where there are three full layers vertically from hip line to hem, but the visible panels are tapered (narrowed) toward the waist, causing small overlaps of the underpleats.

Good find on the 'net. All these bits and pieces of construction instruction build a good base for one to visualize sewing a kilt.

w2f

[Alan H]

This is good for visualizing what a box pleat is, but of limited use in making a tapered box-pleat kilt. However, that said, everything that can help "seeing" what you'll be doing when making a kilt is GOOD.

[McFarkus]

Yeah, I forgot so say from Chicago.

[Pleater]

... or, where there are three full layers vertically from hip line to hem, but the visible panels are tapered (narrowed) toward the waist, causing small overlaps of the underpleats.

w2f

Ah - I tried that - with a good thick material those overlaps make strange little triangular bumps in the middle of each panel, which could be removed by the edges being trimmed off - but why not just keep things simple and leave the fabric whole?

I'm great advocate (and possibly exponent) of making things just complicated enough to get a good return for time spent, and I'd always advise the three smooth layers at the waist option, at least to start off with.

Though maybe look at the five layer option, where the inner folds are both the full width of the panel at the waist.

There is also the double half width option - where there are five layers of fabric but folded to make two half widths.

Just no lumpy overlaps.