Purchasing a B&S Casual...sett or stripe

[Avonlea22]

So, tomorrow I will be ordering a Burnett's and Struth Casual kilt in the Wilson Modern tartan:

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/image...800x600%5D.JPG

I'd like some opinions on how to pleat. I've NEVER seen this tartan in real life and hence have never seen a kilt in this tartan.

What would you guys recommend?

[NewEnglander]

I've never seen the tartan either, but I also have a B&S casual (in muted MacPherson) which is pleated to the sett. I love the kilt (though I actually had to send it back to be altered b/c it turns out I don't like a traditional rise on my kilts). Anyway, perhaps you can ask the good folks at B&S to mock up the two different pleating styles and send you pics. I've found that Brandon at B&S was a great guy to work with.
Best of luck!

[azwildcat96]

I'll offer my opinion, sinced you asked...I would choose to pleat it to the sett. If it had a single white stripe, I would have suggested pleating to the stripe. Either way, I'm sure it will be professionally done, and will look great.

p.s. I like the muted 'rusty' reds in this tartan. Very nice.

[Avonlea22]

So, according to Brandon at B&S, for a 4 yard casual kilt, you can't pleat to either one, so I guess the question is now mute.

Thanks anyways.

[RockyR]

So, according to Brandon at B&S, for a 4 yard casual kilt, you can't pleat to either one, so I guess the question is now mute.

Thanks anyways.

I know that you understand it's moot (not mute) point, but just to explain in case others don't... the reason you can't pleat a 5 yarder (or 4 yard in this case) to the sett is b/c each pleat would be 2" wide or so (depending on the size of the sett and the measurements of the kilt). When kiltmakers (including myself) talk about "cheating the sett", it means that we pleat to LESS than the full sett b/c the length of cloth available (4 or 5 yards). When done well, it still makes a nice pattern and doesn't look 'sloppy' or disorganized. Here's an example of a 5 yarder done "cheating the sett":

Please excuse the watermark:

[Burly Brute]

I know that you understand it's moot (not mute) point, but just to explain in case others don't... the reason you can't pleat a 5 yarder (or 4 yard in this case) to the sett is b/c each pleat would be 2" wide or so (depending on the size of the sett and the measurements of the kilt). When kiltmakers (including myself) talk about "cheating the sett", it means that we pleat to LESS than the full sett b/c the length of cloth available (4 or 5 yards). When done well, it still makes a nice pattern and doesn't look 'sloppy' or disorganized. Here's an example of a 5 yarder done "cheating the sett":

Please excuse the watermark:

That's awesome!

[piperdown]

If possible make sure you get the heaviest weight. As it is 4 yd, it is lighter than normal.
Having said that, for the price you can not beat the quality. I have a B&S casual Maple Leaf which I love.
My only wish is that they offer it in the McIntosh tartan.

[MacBean]

I was surprised they don't do MacKintosh in the sale item casuals. Their selection certainly used to be wider. Even the MacBean Ancient is gone...glad I bought mine a year ago!

[auld argonian]

As they always point out, a lot has to do with the size of the sett of the tartan. USA Kilts did a casual (5 yds.) PV for me in Hunting Stewart and pleated it to the yellow stripe beautifully...has me wanting another in the semi-trad version pleated the same way. So it's sett size and length that determine some of your options.

Best

AA

[Tobus]

Yikes, looking at that tartan I can see why. It's too large a sett to be pleatable to either stripe or sett. I wonder, though, if they could pleat to alternating stripes so at least there's some semblance of order to it? Or if it just has to be random.