To pleat to the sett or pleat to the stripe, that is the question

**SingleBarrelBourbon** · 29th November 06, 11:19 AM

The USNA Pipes & Drums of the Brigade of Midshipmen wears the Polaris tartan.

The Polaris tartan is next on my list. I have spoken with Alexis and will be getting one made in the spring.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 29th November 06, 05:54 PM

Sorry I am late coming to this thread, but my advice would be to pleat to the stripe, and here is why:

This tartan is a military tartan. Traditionally, military kilts were pleated to stripe. Not that a military tartan cannot be pleated to sett if it is a civilian kilt (not part of the uniform), but pleating to stripe would be a nod towards the tartan's military heritage.

Specifically, I'd pleat to the light blue/yellow stripes on the green, both because that is the obvious stripe, and also becuase tartans based on the Black Watch sett (which this one is) are typically pleated to whatever stripe is on the green portion of the sett, enabling you to work more easily with the large sett created by such tartans (as has already been discussed).

And lastly, I just think it would look sharp pleated to the line.

Of course, it is your kilt, and the best advice is to get it pleated however you want!

M

**mbhandy** · 29th November 06, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

And lastly, I just think it would look sharp pleated to the line.

Of course, it is your kilt, and the best advice is to get it pleated however you want!M

I'm with Matt and it is the millitary style.

MrBill

**wsk** · 29th November 06, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Sorry I am late coming to this thread...

No, no. Don't appogoze to me, I'm honored to have your opinion regardless of when I get it. Thank you.

**JimB** · 29th November 06, 08:21 PM

I think this would look good pleated to either the sett or the stripe.
My personal preference would be to pleat it to the stripe, but it can give a loot that can be surprising based on what colors surround the stripe. Looking at this, I think you will have a very yellow look to the back of your kilt but I would be ok with that. I would just do some folding and pinning and see if you're happy with it.
I think doing it to the stripe is easier in concept because the lines are right there, you don't have to figure much out. Just line everything up and there you go...but Barb is right..execution is everything. When you do it to the stripe, being a little off shows up right away.
Whether you use each sett or every other sett to do your pleats depends on how far apart the setts are and how deep the pleats would be on each or every other sett. If they are too close you will end up with shallow pleats. I prefer ending up with about a 3 inch depth. Again, try it by folding and pinning and see what you get.
It's a beutiful tartan. Good luck with it