Box pleats and winter

**mbhandy** · 4th December 05, 10:42 PM

This evening I took a short walk with the dog in the snow and it is 7F. Had on Sorals, Poly socks, wool kilt socks and my box pleat kilt,rugby shirt,Fleese jacket,wool tam and light gloves. The only thing that was cold was my hands. I needed heavier gloves .

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th December 05, 05:32 AM

Sorry if I wasn't clear. A 4 yard kilt is going to be cooler than an 8 yard kilt, period. It doesn't really matter weather is it box or knife pleated. I don't think the style of pleating has any bearing on the temperature whatsoever.

The only exceptions that I could think of is maybe if you got a 4 yard kilt in a super-heacy 22 oz regimental weight, and an 8 yard kilt from a 10 oz light weight, the 4 yarder would actually be warmer. But as long as you are comparing like weights, the 5 yarder will always be the cooler of the two, because it contains less cloth.

But I find my 16 oz 4 yard kilts comfortable year round. I live in the usually moderate climate of NC, though.

I find that it is the kilt hose that determine if I am cool or warm. I have some woolen, over the knee hiking socks that keep me nice and toasty in the coldest spells.

Ron, I'm pretty sure the X Marks tartan was 15 oz, but the Fraser & Kirkbright mill uses a fine merino wool, so even though is it a heavy weight, the fabric feels more like what you might expect a medium weight cloth to feel like.

Aye,
Matt

**starbkjrus** · 5th December 05, 01:46 PM

I guess I"ll get to try this out myself in a few days.

I just opened my email and what do you think was there?? The fedEX notification that my 4 yard box pleated Carolina district tartan kilt ala Matt Newsome should arrive Wednesday. WhooHooo!

I'll also get to try it out in the wilds of southern Ontario at Christmas. Well, Windsor is not exactly the "wilds" but its much colder than Virginia.

<Jonesing into high gear>

**michael steinrok** · 8th December 05, 07:39 PM

I don't know which is which but you better not go on an airplane with them.
Actually what the h--- is the difference? Can some on explain it so it makes sense.
Regarding the wind Switchblade5984 flashed a whole bus load of tourists in Napa when he walked into a breezeway.So stay out of breezeways if you don,t wish to reveal the truth about the tradition

**Rob Wright** · 8th December 05, 07:52 PM

I've worn my 13 oz wht 4yd casual in a full snowstorm and been fine.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th December 05, 04:28 AM

I don't know which is which but you better not go on an airplane with them. Actually what the h--- is the difference? Can some on explain it so it makes sense.

This is a picture of a typical 8-yard knife pleated kilt:

This is a picture of a 4-yard box pleated kilt:

Both are taken from my web site at http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html where you can read more about the traditional box pleated kilt.

Notice the way the pleats are positioned. In the knife pleat, aka side pleat, they all go the same direction. In the box pleat, each pleat is going in alternate directions, so as to form little "boxes."

Aye,
Matt