pleated to the "dreaded lawn chair effect"

[Terry Searl]

Good day Rabble
there are a number of things i like about this site but especially the honesty in opinion, the varied opinions, and the respect from members towards each other in expressing their opinions. It is also a great site to get professional advice
I am considering having a new 8 yd, 16 oz wool kilt made in the Canadian Maple Leaf tartan
I like the tartan but I have to admit there doesn't seem to be a brilliant vibrancy in the colours as there is in some other tartans
I am also considering to have it pleated to the horizontal stripe, mostly because as I understand it, that pleating isn't done much and not to that tartan......and I would like my new kilt to be just a wee bit different and personal......do any of you have this tartan pleated that way and or what are your thoughts about pleating this tartan to the horizontal strip......much thanx in advance

[Jock Scot]

If you like it then do it. There are things with kilt attire where conforming might be a consideration for you, but this issue is purely your choice, besides you are not the one who is going to see it when its being worn , are you?

[The Wizard of BC]

Terry,

Why don't you post the same picture you sent to me so everyone can see what you are talking about.

[Tarheel]

I await for photo "The Wiz" asked for. There will be a chance that the look will not be a bad as imagined.

[Terry Searl]

If you like it then do it. There are things with kilt attire where conforming might be a consideration for you, but this issue is purely your choice, besides you are not the one who is going to see it when its being worn , are you?

My thoughts exactly although I might get my wife to take a movie of me walking away.......but then it will be too late and I'll just be happy about having another beautiful kilt

[Terry Searl]

Terry,

Why don't you post the same picture you sent to me so everyone can see what you are talking about.

I 'll have to find that picture .....although you did tell me the photo showed a horrible job of pleat pressing, Steve

[Barb T]

I like the tartan but I have to admit there doesn't seem to be a brilliant vibrancy in the colours as there is in some other tartans
I am also considering to have it pleated to the horizontal stripe.

So, to clarify what you're saying, a kiltmaker doesn't "pleat to a horizontal stripe". In order to achieve what you want (totally suppressing a vertical element), you have to pleat to a solid color block (i.e., every pleat has exactly the same solid color element in the pleat and nothing else). See the examples below:






The first kilt above was pleated to the gray block, the second to the green block, the third to the brown block. There are no vertical stripes or color boundaries in any of the pleats. Whether this can be done depends on the size of the sett and the size of the elements in the sett. Pleats in a guy's kilt are typically 3/4" to 1" across at the hips, and, if you don't have a single color block in the tartan that is that wide, there will _have_ to be a vertical color boundary somewhere in each pleat. Whether that introduces a subtle or a visible vertical element depends on the color contrast. Here's a kilt that is actually pleated to the stripe, but there's so little color contrast between the central stripe and the background color that it looks at a distance to be pleated to a solid color block:




In all of the examples above, the horizontal element is perfectly acceptable and doesn't give the "lawn chair" effect because the tartans aren't too "contrasty-stripey".

So, to totally suppress a vertical element and make a good-looking kilt, the tartan has to have both the right character _and_ the right size solid color block.

[McNeil]

Wow,
You all keep sharing. I keep learning. Thanks!
McNeil

[Terry Searl]

So, to clarify what you're saying, a kiltmaker doesn't "pleat to a horizontal stripe". In order to achieve what you want (totally suppressing a vertical element), you have to pleat to a solid color block (i.e., every pleat has exactly the same solid color element in the pleat and nothing else). See the examples below:






The first kilt above was pleated to the gray block, the second to the green block, the third to the brown block. There are no vertical stripes or color boundaries in any of the pleats. Whether this can be done depends on the size of the sett and the size of the elements in the sett. Pleats in a guy's kilt are typically 3/4" to 1" across at the hips, and, if you don't have a single color block in the tartan that is that wide, there will _have_ to be a vertical color boundary somewhere in each pleat. Whether that introduces a subtle or a visible vertical element depends on the color contrast. Here's a kilt that is actually pleated to the stripe, but there's so little color contrast between the central stripe and the background color that it looks at a distance to be pleated to a solid color block:




In all of the examples above, the horizontal element is perfectly acceptable and doesn't give the "lawn chair" effect because the tartans aren't too "contrasty-stripey".

So, to totally suppress a vertical element and make a good-looking kilt, the tartan has to have both the right character _and_ the right size solid color block.

Thank-you so much Barb for your incredible expertise, your easily understood explanation, and the photos. ......Your last statement is exactly what I believe.....I will leave it now to Steve to give me more understanding when I see him about building the kilt.....as for myself, a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous, sort of like taking statements out of context.....thanx again

[Terry Searl]

The photo I've attached is very close to what I want although the photo says it is pleated to a thin green line....almost invisible from a distance but can be seen more when the kilt is viewed close up. I'm sure "Kilties" can see the "thin green line" quite easily but for just the general public, I think they see only the broad picture of the tartan and not so much the elements....what say you