Quote Originally Posted by Nemuragh View Post
I think the interesting thing about pleating to the stripe is that, in effect, it creates a new tartan from selected parts of the old. I like the dramatic difference between the front and the back that the wide, blue stripe creates. However, there needs to be a strong vertical element to avoid the deck chair effect that you mention. The additional yellow and white stripes would do this but then there is the problem of spears possibly ending halfway up the kilt. I wonder if that would be a problem if they were made that way, neatly - an unconventional solution, I admit. I would foresee difficulty in persuading a kiltmaker to do that, however.
Nemuragh, that certainly can be the case.

I the two options that the OP mentioned, the thin stripe would have maintained most of the colours of the original tartan - which tends to be the look I prefer. The other option is more like pleating to the block and as OC Richard's post illustrated with reference to the pipe band, it can dramatically change the colour of the back. Some people really like that as well.

I guess in the end it is:
1) personal preference
2) illustrates to creativity in the pleating process.