An interesting example of pleating to stripe

**Barb T** · 13th July 07, 08:46 AM

Hi folks

I just finished a kilt for an XMarker in the Weathered Stewart Old Sett, and I thought it might make an interesting example of some of the issues that kiltmakers face in pleating kilts.

If you look at the first picture below, your first impression might be that the tartan sett (the repeat) is about 7-8", because the dark brown block with the narrow red stripe is repeated every 7-8". But, if you look more closely, you'll see that the block to the right of each dark brown block is different from the one to the left of it (one is tan with gray stripes and one is gray with tan stripes). The kilt actually has only one full repeat across the front, from the center of the gray block on the left to the center of the gray block on the right. This is an example of an A-B-A-C type tartan (dark brown block, gray block, dark brown block, tan block).

Anyway the sett here is 15". If you were to try to pleat this kilt to the sett, each pleat would be over 7" deep and would take up over 15" of tartan. If you had an 8-yard length, and 2 1/2 yards were used up in the apron, deep pleat, underapron, and inverted pleat, you'd have only 5 1/2 yards for pleats. 198" divided by 16" per pleat would give you only 12 pleats in the back of the kilt. That would be unacceptable.

The only real alternative here is to pleat this tartan to the red stripe in the dark brown block, because that block is repeated twice per sett. That's what I've done for the kilt, and the rest of the photos show various views of how the front and the back look together.

Cheers,

Barb

**Splash_4** · 13th July 07, 08:52 AM

Wow Barb, that is stunning!

**Ayin McFye** · 13th July 07, 08:55 AM

WOW Again Barb. That is VERY Nicely done! I really really like that tartan and how it turned out. It looks very sharp and extremely well done! I need to start practicing because i would love to be able to make kilts like that. Thank you for sharing and inspiring!

**pdcorlis** · 13th July 07, 09:02 AM

I really appreciate your insights and observations Barb - each kilt you create is beautiful and your skills are simply amazing! Be sure to tell your husband the photos are also real works of art!

**Tattoo Bradley** · 13th July 07, 09:06 AM

AWESOME! That looks wonderful.

**starbkjrus** · 13th July 07, 09:13 AM

Wow. One of these days I've got to order a kilt from you. Do you have a website with pics of all the kilts you've made by chance? That would be nice to peruse.

**Big Paul** · 13th July 07, 09:35 AM

You are a true a master!

**Barb T** · 13th July 07, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by starbkjrus

Wow. One of these days I've got to order a kilt from you. Do you have a website with pics of all the kilts you've made by chance? That would be nice to peruse.

No, actually I don't have a web site. I get so much business by word of mouth and via this forum that I keep busy without advertising. Some day, maybe I'll have a site!

Barb

**Arlen** · 13th July 07, 09:56 AM

Every time I see one of your kilts I am just hypnotized by the pleats. they are always bone straight and perfectly lined.
One day I need to order a kilt from you.

**The Wizard of BC** · 13th July 07, 10:18 AM

OK, I thought David was the photographer in the family. If David is in the pictures, who is behind the camera?
First you take an interest in rocks and turn it into an endowed chair. Then you want to make a kilt and turn that into "The Master Herself". Now should we expect to see your name next to Ansel Adams in the history books?
I think I'll just go hide under my bed.