Tartan orientation question

[Geomantic]

I'm looking to purchase a new Welsh cilt in the Evans tartan (to honor another side of the family), probably from Kiltstore.net. I would like to do something interesting with military pleating but am not sure what would be the best option for which part of the plaid to show and what to fold in the pleats. I'm open to any suggestions from the wise and knowledgable brethren. Thanks

[sirdaniel1975]

Hmm,



It's clear that there is part of this tartans design that was unseen with the image you provided. The image here is from www.tartans.scotland.net .

Most folks go with "pleat to sett" which allows one to see the pattern/design of the tartan when viewing the pleats.

You asked about military pleats, I assume you mean "pleated to stripe?" Which shows off one of the stripes in a pleated design. Kilt makers can explain this much better and more precisely than I. I think with some tartans there are several options for which stripe to display.. I might be wrong.. don't take my statement at face value. I believe with the Evans it could be pleated to the white or red stripe.. Again, find out for sure!


*left = pleat to stripe
*right = pleat to sett

Most of the folks here are most likely to recommend "pleat to sett" and then say something along the lines: "pleat to stripe looks good if you're in a pipe band or something...."

#1 advice = Discussing this with a kilt/cilt maker is the best advice I have for you.

[Cawdorian]

I don't consider myself one of the "wise and Knowledgeable" but there is a very good set of illustrations depicting how the kilt changes color depending on which color stripe is pleated. Look on Matt's website at www.albanach.org for the set of pictures.

[starbkjrus]

I don't consider myself one of the "wise and Knowledgeable" but there is a very good set of illustrations depicting how the kilt changes color depending on which color stripe is pleated. Look on Matt's website at www.albanach.org for the set of pictures.

While you're at Matt's website check out his Box Pleated kilts. I'm a really big fan of them. I only have one of the box pleats but there are several more on my list.

[Aggie]

No rule I know of says that you have to be a member of a band to pleat to the stripe. If you like the way it looks--do it.

[sirdaniel1975]

No rule I know of says that you have to be a member of a band to pleat to the stripe. If you like the way it looks--do it.

I completely agree. I never said anything about rules...... Personally I rather like pleated to stripe.... Let's not put words into person's statements..

Peace!

When it come down to it, one must ultimately decide for themselves.
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[Barb T]

Here's a strategy you can use to decide about pleating to the stripe, given the fact that you don't actually have the tartan in hand. If you can get a picture of the tartan that shows one complete repeat, open the picture in an image processing program such as PhotoShop and create a new long and skinny document with the tartan swatch cloned and matched up 10 or 12 times. Shrink it, print it out on a color printer, and start folding. Remember to scale the pleats properly to get the right effect. Pleats in most kilts are 3/4"-1" across, so be sure to fold your paper so that the pleats are a scaled equivalent.

It's really the only way to know what the kilt will look like pleated various ways. You don't have to do a test pleated to the sett, because the kilt will look like the tartan if pleated properly to the sett.

And you don't have to be in a band to wear a kilt pleated to the stripe.

Barb

[macwilkin]

Just noticed this thread was in the wrong section -- moved thread to "Heraldry & Tartans section -- please post all tartan-related threads here.

Thanks!

TJW

[Geomantic]

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

Here's a strategy you can use to decide about pleating to the stripe, given the fact that you don't actually have the tartan in hand. If you can get a picture of the tartan that shows one complete repeat, open the picture in an image processing program such as PhotoShop and create a new long and skinny document with the tartan swatch cloned and matched up 10 or 12 times. Shrink it, print it out on a color printer, and start folding. Remember to scale the pleats properly to get the right effect. Pleats in most kilts are 3/4"-1" across, so be sure to fold your paper so that the pleats are a scaled equivalent.

I figured that out and did in Paint Shop Pro by copying a narrow cropped strip (what I want to show) of the tartan and pasteing it over and over in a line, it worked good! I think I've decided on the white vertical stripe showing

[Andrew Green]

Pleating to the stripe is done by a fair handful of makers. It is almost always an option when buying a kilt, as is pleating to the sett. Part of it would be how much fabric you use. The box pleat is a very good option, and might also be a little less expensive, and still look quite sharp, and apparenty, it is also an older fashion of pleating, first adopted by the military, and the look can be altered pretty amazing, just by choosing to pleat to a different stripe.
I would go box pleat, with the central stripe being what it's pleated to, as that small swatch looks like it would make and interesting band across the kilt.