Opinions on box v knife pleats

[Ialtog]

Just because I've learned so much from reading folks opinions about a variety of subjects here, I wanted to toss this one out. For my second kilt I am seriously thinking about a four yard, 13 oz wool kilt with the County Armagh tartan. But my mind changes every five seconds when I consider either knife pleats or box pleats. I'd enjoy hearing opinions/experiences from other members....

Thanks,

[David White]

Just because I've learned so much from reading folks opinions about a variety of subjects here, I wanted to toss this one out. For my second kilt I am seriously thinking about a four yard, 13 oz wool kilt with the County Armagh tartan. But my mind changes every five seconds when I consider either knife pleats or box pleats. I'd enjoy hearing opinions/experiences from other members....

Thanks,

If you look at my posts Ialtog you will see I love box-pleats. Its an earlier
style, which I like. Someday I will own a knife-pleat, should be interesting!

[Kilted Stuart]

Ialtog,
I'm more the knife pleat type. I think it just has that unhindered sway i've grown to love all my life.
I did see Wompet at the Fergus Highland Games this year at the CCK booth and really checked out his box pleat x-marks tartan kilt. It was the first box pleat i've really got a good look at. I'm almost sure he said it was a Matt Newsom made kilt and it was well made indeed.
I'm still a knife pleat guy but the box pleat is very different to me. I can see the lure this way of pleating may have with some.
You have a tough decision to make. Either way you can't go wrong.

Kilted Stuart

[MacWage]

From now on-> 13 oz of higher wool-> WILL be box pleats
-except for ONE kinfe pleat made with the rest of the American Bicentennial material (unless I forgo that and make two 4 yard box pleats instead).

Cotton and other non-permenant pleat material will be 6 yard knife/side pleats.

Why?

I like the weight and feel (mostly the front to rear balance of a 4 yard box pleat. A four yard knife pleat just looks odd to me-> WAY to big pleat facings or WAY to small pleats. A five to six yard knife (and especially an 8 yard tank) looks MUCH better, but lacks the wearing balance of a box pleat. Additionally, a 4 yarder required ONLY 2 double width yards, which is cheaper than 3 (for a 6 yarder) or 4 (for an 8 yard tank), especially in $65-100/yard worsted wool!

So, why the cotton 6 yarders (in Wallace and Carolina)?

The Knife is MUCH easlier to re-iron the pleats, if they become "unpleated." The Box pleat is a BEAR to reiron! You need to repin or rebast the WHOLE BACK (or at least a significant portion) to keep from "Ironing pleats out" on accident. For a knife, just the associated ones and the ones that are under them.

Maybe it is because I'm lazy and HATE ironing.

BUT-> 4 yards of a 13 oz worsted wool (two yards in double width) is IDEAL for a box (and half the price of an 8 yarder, if making it yourself (and also for many kiltmakers for the extra labor of an 8 yarder).

[HeathBar]

I see it as diversity. Not whether I like one particular style over another. I don't have a box pleat yet. I would like to try to make one when the new and improved x-kilt instructions come out. I would also like to have one made by Matt Newsome, some day. Right now I am making a knife pleat and will start another one as soon as I am finished with the current one. I guess once I am finished making kilts for myself, I'll have one professionally made. And it will probably be a box pleat from Matt.

[Andrew Green]

I own knife pleated pieces, but I definitely want a box pleat. I think box pleats look really good, and were an earlier style, which plays a part in my interest in them. I look at it as variety as well... a nix mix has never hurt anyone, has it?

[Livingston]

The two kilts I have right now are knife but one of these days I'll have to add a box pleat kilt. I think I prefer the knife pleat but will hve to have one just for the difference.

[Wompet]

I did see Wompet at the Fergus Highland Games this year at the CCK booth and really checked out his box pleat x-marks tartan kilt. It was the first box pleat i've really got a good look at. I'm almost sure he said it was a Matt Newsom made kilt and it was well made indeed.

It is indeed a Matt Newsome box pleat, and it is very well made.
Comparing it to my 4-yd knife pleated kilts, it weighs the same but feels lighter - the front/rear balance that MacWage mentioned. The box pleats themselves have so far retained their shape better than knife pleats tend to, even when sitting on them for long periods of time.

Right now I'm waiting for my second box-pleat from Matt - he'll be making the first kilt ever in the Sackett tartan. Yep, having the very first kilt in my family tartan made not as an 8-yd (Heresy! ), not has a 4- or 5-yd knife-pleat, but as a 4-yd box pleat - I guess that gives an indication of what I think of box pleats.

[O'Neille]

All of my 12 kilts are knife pleats 4 five yarders, 4 six yarders, and 4 eight yarders. One more five yarder on it's way and another 8 yarder being made. After this the next kilt I make or have made will be a box pleat. Just to see how I like them. Everyone I have seen I've liked and that's all that matters. I may even make a box pleat with my first weaving project. We'll see. O'Neille

[sirdaniel1975]

Ialtog,

I like the look of them both equally. Which pretty much summs it up for me. I have a casual lightweight knife pleat and have a boxpleat on order. I'm considering having a second boxpleat some day. I do plan on having some finely made eight yarded ones... But, that takes time. Like HeathBar said, "I see it as diversity."

I've seen several box pleats in person (I live in Franklin, NC; where the Scottish Tartans museum is located) and I think they look great. It's all personal taste. Infact I saw Matt Newsome today in one of his box pleats, and the volunteer Chuck was wearing his Cockburn. .

As a musician, I tend to try equipment out before I purchase it, to make sure it's what I want and need. I have worn two loaner kilts in the past. Perhaps borrowing someones kilt could answer some of your questions. That could be a solution if it's feasible for you.?.? Obviously borrowing a box pleat will be more difficult, they are not as common.

One thing to consider, a box pleat is a wee bit unique, because they are more rare to see them. Could be an extra conversation starter, especially at Highland events...

Daniel s. Williamson