Kingussie Pleating: Anyone have one?

[Guinach]

Came across a reference to Kingussie pleating and was wondering if anyone has one.
Also, does anyone know the tartan that the extant example was made from?
Thanks,
Konn

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

My favorite kilt is a Kingussie in MacMillan Hunting, made by Matt Newsome. In my opinion this is the best style of kilt for those who live in warmer or humid climes.

[Spartan Tartan]

In my opinion this is the best style of kilt for those who live in warmer or humid climes.

Why is that?

[New World Czech]

I had my Xmarks PV Kingussie pleated. A very car friendly style as I can sweep the right as I get in and the left takes care of itself.

[New World Czech]

Why is that?

One reason from my understanding is it is typically a 6 yard kilt. Also with the pleats facing forward on both sides you can catch more of a breeze as you walk.

[mookien]

One reason from my understanding is it is typically a 6 yard kilt. ...

Kevin: Other kilt makers may make 6-yard Kingussies, but Matt at New House Highland limits his to 4-yard and 5-yard kilts, at least according to his web page. Mine is 5 yards.

John

[seanachie]

John Hart of Keltoi also makes Kingussie pleated kilts and his site says this of his Unlike historical Kingussie kilts, my version includes deep reverse pleats at the apron edges for a better fit. The Kingussie uses approximately five yards of fabric. It is pleated to the stripe and contains, on average, 11-15 pleats. I have one in Highland Cathedral tartan and really enjoy it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Why is that?

The Kingussie is made with less fabric. This means that it is not as heavy as a traditionally pleated kilt, and thus isn't as hot to wear, a real consideration in those areas where the temperatures and humidity levels can soar above what is commonly encountered in Scotland. It's my experience that the thickness of the finished kilt, along with its actual weight (in pounds and ounces) is a major factor in determining warm weather comfort. Because a Kingussie will weigh less than a standard knife pleat kilt, and will not be as thick across the back, it will be more comfortable in hot and sticky weather.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I don't think just any kilt maker would be able to make a Kingussie pleated kilt for you. For starters, many if not most of them would likely have never heard of such a beast. Fewer still would have had an occasion to see one in person or have actually made one before.

I have a section on my web site describing this style here:
http://www.newhousehighland.com/kingussie.html

The oldest kilt known to have been made in this style is from c. 1820 and is a Robertson tartan. This kilt is presently held at the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie. Bob Martin documents this kilt in his book All About Your Kilt, and he is the one who coined the term "Kingussie pleat" to describe this unique style of pleating, after studying the kilt at the Highland Folk Museum.

The Robertson tartan this kilt was made from is not the one normally seen today, but has a white line added to the sett. More info here in the National Register.


For those in the US, you can see a replica of this original kilt in the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin. The cloth was hand woven by Peter MacDonald and the kilt made by Bob Martin.

Also on display in the Scottish Tartans Museum is a second kilt discovered in this same pleating style, in the Muirhead tartan (or what in modern times has been adopted as the Muirhead tartan). This kilt, made c. 1840, belonged to William Muirhead, of Edinburgh, who migrated to the US in 1854. It is only the second historical kilt to be identified made in this unusual pleating style.

You can read more about that kilt here:
http://scottishtartans.org/muirhead.htm

Both of these kilts are low yardage, being made with about 4 yards of cloth.

Aye,
Matt

[Guinach]

Thanks very much for the info and replies. This might be the style I go for when I settle on a tailor made kilt.
Regards,
Konn