Calculation of pleats in Kilt

[Pleater]

My engineer husband always wants measurements in mm - but when trying to fix the sink he cuts off quarter of an inch - there's the brain and there is the hand, as they say.

When I am sorting out pleats it is not unusual for me to use a micrometre - but you don't really need to.

I find it is usually easiest to mock up the aprons - just pin them, put in the under apron pleats, and then count the remaining sets to see how wide the pleat reveals should be - then you can fold the fabric, get the stripe or part of the set you need to show correctly positioned, press lightly and then tack down the folds.

You can then check that everything is going to work out right, that the measurement is right and everything looks correct before doing any serious sewing.

There is absolutely no difference using metric or imperial measurements - if you read the theory of constructing a kilt for a particular size and understand how the maths is done, and why, then you can do the same thing in any units of measurement.

A lot of kilt design comes down to making just over half the circumference pleats, and don't skimp on the under apron pleats so sitting down is not going to get anyone arrested.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: