I have a blackwatch that is handsewn from Scotland and two of my own. I stitched down each and every pleat by hand 36 on one (Dress McCrae,) 38 on my Hamilton. I got it down to 20 min. per pleat. I hemmed up the double pleat on the apron by hand, hand stitched the button hole for the inner strap and hand stitched the linen curtain inside. The only thing I did by machine was serge the cutaways in the pleats at the hip. These kilts are close to the 9 yds of wool required to make a traditional kilt.
My casual kilts are sewn by machine.
Cheers
Robert