Knife pleated V Box pleated

[Tobus]

Father Bill, how would you describe the swish of a box pleat? I've always worn knife-pleats.

This is just my personal observation, so take it for what it's worth. But I find that low-yardage box pleats don't really "swish" at all. They do move, but I would describe it more as a billowing effect, like it's being inflated and deflated as you walk. This is because a low-yardage box pleat doesn't have a directional overlap like a knife pleat. Box pleats basically have small pleats that are reversed from each other, in pairs, which makes the fabric not want to swish side-to-side. Each pleat's movement cancels out the side-to-side movement of the one next to it.

But with a knife pleat, the deep overlap of the pleats is all in one direction (assuming a standard knife pleated kilt, not a Kingussie style). So the fabric will tend to get moving with your gait and develop a side-to-side swish. High-yardage box pleats, with a directional overlap, will act like a knife pleat. But the low yardage ones with symmetrical 'boxes' just don't swish in my experience.

Two random examples are below. You can definitely see the difference in how my box pleat kilt moves compared to a knife pleat kilt.

[TheOfficialBren]

Thanks, To bus. Your photos are exactly what I needed to see to get an idea.

[Nathan]

I would argue that regimental weight tartan pleated in bulky military pleating style doesn't swing all that well - the pleats are stiffer and don't have the flexibility of a standard knife pleat. [*ducks* - I expect some will protest this analysis, but, hey, that's what I think. ]

I'm not protesting, but just thought I'd help people visualize. Regimental weight tartan pleated in military pleating style swings like the Cape Breton Highlanders marching here as that's what they are wearing:



I'll let the reader/viewer decide if that swings well enough for them but there it is on a bunch of folks.

This was after their rebadging from the Nova Scotia Highlanders, back to the Cape Breton Highlanders but they hadn't yet received their Black Watch tartan kilts and were still wearing MacDonald modern. The kilts you see in that video look like this close up:









And here's my dad, mid stride in my regimental weight regimental pleated kilt.