MacLean Hunting Modern - to the set or to the stripe?

[Sconish]

Hi there,

I am getting married this summer and I will wear a 8-yard 16oz kilt with the MacLean Hunting Modern tartan.
My main doubt right now is whether it should be pleated to the set or to the stripe.

Unfortunately I do not have pictures of how it would look like in any of the cases.

In general I think I like to the stripe but I guess it depends on the tartan and I am not sure how it will look like with the MacLean Hunting Modern tartan.

Could you give me some informed advice about this?

Thanks!

[RichardtheLarge]

Hi there,

I am getting married this summer and I will wear a 8-yard 16oz kilt with the MacLean Hunting Modern tartan.
My main doubt right now is whether it should be pleated to the set or to the stripe.

Unfortunately I do not have pictures of how it would look like in any of the cases.

In general I think I like to the stripe but I guess it depends on the tartan and I am not sure how it will look like with the MacLean Hunting Modern tartan.

Could you give me some informed advice about this?

Thanks!

As Steve Ashton has pointed out, a reputable kiltmaker will be happy to pin fabric samples of your tartan in various configurations. Pleating to the stripe is a concept full of possibilities—which stripe will you use? For most tartans there are a variety of options that will produce different looks. Ask the kiltmaker to produce and photograph these examples and then pick the one you like the best. There are many tartans that I’ve never seen sewn into a kilt and it’s difficult to visualize them by yourself.

[Mike S]

Here is an image of the tartan so that others don't have to do a search before commenting. I usually prefer pleating to the stripe for most tartans, but this is an example of one that I think would actually look better pleated to the sett:

[Jock Scot]

I agree that that tartan will look better pleated to the sett and I see quite a lot of that tartan around here, but it's your kilt so it's down to you. Just so you know, for many Scottish kiltmakers unless you specify how you want the kilt pleated it will always be pleated to the sett. Most Scots don't know that there is a pleating choice anyway! I know of one well known Highland kiltmaker who will only make their kilts pleated to the sett, so do your research.

[Sconish]

Thanks everybody for your 2 cents. I have contacted a reputable kiltmaker in London that will pin it for me so I can decide the pleating before ordering.

Those who say it will probably look better to the sett, could you please elaborate a bit more?

Thanks again

[Jock Scot]

----------

Those who say it will probably look better to the sett, could you please elaborate a bit more?

Thanks again

Gosh that is a tricky one! Its a perception really, perhaps based on not a little experience and with added traditional input. All a tad tenuous.

The traditional bit first, I was brought up with the thought that pleating to the stripe was for the military and pipe bands and not for civilians. In fairness, those from outwith these shores are not too bothered about all that. My personal perception for civilian kilt wear then is that pleating to the stripe just looks too busy-----loud and brash even, with some tartans---- and just does not look so pleasing to the eye when compared with pleating to the sett.

[RichardtheLarge]

Thanks everybody for your 2 cents. I have contacted a reputable kiltmaker in London that will pin it for me so I can decide the pleating before ordering.

Those who say it will probably look better to the sett, could you please elaborate a bit more?

Thanks again

Many kilts when pleated to the stripe will produce a wide, blocky, horizontal stripe effect. At a guess, a kiltmaker would probably pleat the tartan you shared to one of the white stripes running vertically unless otherwise specified. You will then get a double row of black squares running horizontally across the entire back of the kilt. Some people like this effect and some don’t.

I agree with Jock that this particular tartan would look better pleated to the set. In my opinion, stripe pleating shines with a high contrast or very colorful tartan, so that you see a bit of color when the pleats swing.

[LKM]

Sett or stripe? This is a question that comes down to what you like best. Some like the sett better, others (including myself) like the stripe better. Looking at the tartan I see a few different ways that tartan can look if it is pleated to the stripe depending on pleating to the green stripe or the black stripe and how wide the pleats are.

mclean.JPG

The image is edited quickly in MS Paint to give an idea of different looks when pleating to the stripe.

[Sconish]

Sett or stripe? This is a question that comes down to what you like best. Some like the sett better, others (including myself) like the stripe better. Looking at the tartan I see a few different ways that tartan can look if it is pleated to the stripe depending on pleating to the green stripe or the black stripe and how wide the pleats are.

mclean.JPG

The image is edited quickly in MS Paint to give an idea of different looks when pleating to the stripe.

Thanks LKM, that helps me to visualise it a little bit better. The kiltmaker told me that he would probably stripe it to the white line as is the dominant line according to him.
Will have to decide next week when I visit him.

[Taskr]

Be mindful of the pleating to any element giving the appearance of lawn chair webbing, but also to the flash while walking - that is, what colour(s) reveal as the pleats swish to your gait. The size of the sett will also influence the depth of pleats to different elements.
Yep, lots to think about.