Well, I'm back to square two!

This is my first kilt and I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to sewing. Oh yeah, I'm also a lefty. My first 5 tries were just coming up with a method for pleating a kilt left handed. With that problem solved, on to the dirty work of pleating. Pleats 1 & 2: a bit wonky but passable (at least the stitches were neat and tidy-about 12 to the inch). Number 3 was a bit better, number 4 almost perfect! Numbers 5 & 6 practically perfect in every way. I stood back and looked at my work and much to my horror-next to number 5 &6, pleats 1, 2 & 3 looked like a first grader stitched them. Oh well at least I'm really good a ripping seams. Only 25 more pleats to go! (AGAIN)

Sooo... all you long time kilt makers, a little encouragement here please. How many kilts did you make till you got it right? Is that first one you made sitting in the back of the closet, never to see the light of day? Or did you do what I am doing and just keep ripping out pleats on the first kilt until you got it right?

How many times can one rip out a pleat before the wool looses it integrity?