Oops - marking pleats is hard!

[Deesquared]

I've been working hard all week on my first kilt - a dance kilt for my daughter.
No problems with the measuring, ripping. Even the sewing wasn't too bad if I do say so myself!
However, marking the pleats was one of the most intimidating sewing projects I've ever done! As you can see, I did not do a very good job!
pleats - first attempt 31-01-2014 9-22-02 AM.jpg
As I was going along, I knew it was not quite right, but I decided to just 'bash on'. Now I see that my white blocks are all messed up. I'm missing a 'solid white' pleat on right side of the white block. I also now realize that I should have centered that nice red/orange/black/orange/red stripe in a pleat instead of lining it up on one side.
This is only half of the pleats, so I'm going to go ahead and unpick them and re-do my pleat marking.
I think now that I have a better idea of how it all works I might do a better job.

If anyone has suggestions on how to pleat a "Scott" Tartan, or pictures of one pleated to the sett, I would love your input!

Thanks so much!
Dianna

[The Wizard of BC]

Dianna,

Would you please send me an email to steve@freedomkilts.com.

I have a system that I use but it would take longer than a forum post to explain it.

Of course If I had you in my shop for 10 min it would seem so simple that you would hate yourself afterword that you did not think of it.

[rondo]

Dianna,

Would you please send me an email to steve@freedomkilts.com.

I have a system that I use but it would take longer than a forum post to explain it.

Of course If I had you in my shop for 10 min it would seem so simple that you would hate yourself afterword that you did not think of it.

Wow, what a generous offer...I hope she contacts you Steve. Well done.
Rondo

[HarveyH]

This is only half of the pleats, so I'm going to go ahead and unpick them and re-do my pleat marking.

From the picture it looks to me the you have been doing quite well but have just missed a pleat.

Given my poor eyesight, I am always amazed that kiltmakers don't suffer this fate more often and I suspect that missing a pleat is just one of those things.

There was an earlier post about someone who marked out in tailor's chalk, but on a very white cloth like you are using I can't see that being a very good idea.

I know that Barb's book suggests not pinning out. I can't think that many people would have that many pins, but you could pin the next few pleats and check the sett before lifting needle and thread.

But I am sure that Steve will be able to guide you though his engineering method.

[bonnie heather]

This is a young dancer's kilt that I made in the Scott Green Ancient tartan, at her family's request:





The other one is for her sister in the Caledonia tartan.

[Deesquared]

I definitely plan to head to Victoria soon to meet Steve, and get some expert advice.
I'm amazed at what a helpful and welcoming community X-Marks is. Not something you find too often on the internet. ;)

[Deesquared]

Thank you so much for the pics Bonnie Heather. It really helps to see how you've pleated it. I thought I might need to split the multi-striped square down the middle of a pleat (the yellow/black/white/green/white/black/yellow section in your tartan). Looks like the best way to go with this sett.
I still haven't re-marked the pleats yet. I just unpicked them all last night, and I want to see if I can head over to Victoria to get some help from Steve first!

[Deesquared]

Here's an update on my pleating adventure:
20140211_132724.jpg

This is my second try at marking & stitching the pleats. It's going much better than the first try.
I used a combination of Steve's Engineering method and Barb's method to mark the pleats. I also marked them with thread this time rather than chalk. Took a bit of time, but was well worth the effort.
I'm very happy with how things are looking so far.
Almost halfway done with the pleats!

[Barb T]

I know that Barb's book suggests not pinning out.

In the interest of full disclosure and confession, I pin the dickens out of each and every pleat! Here's the explanation:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...not-pin-72250/

[The Wizard of BC]

At each sewing station at FK we have a really big pin cushion stuffed with about a gazillion pins.
It is not uncommon for us to run out of our own pins have to borrow pins from each other.