An IOS Box pleat by Matt Newsome!

**MacWage** · 13th May 07, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Okay, help me here....my Isle of Skye is also 16oz Strome from Lochcarron, but I'd never think of it as "light."

Is that because of the box pleating?

I'm sooo confused.

Ron

In a response I made in another thread I said:

"From the best known box pleat maker's site:
On the yardage:
http://kilts.albanach.org/yardage.html
On the shape of the pleat:
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

My version:

Say, A tartan has a 9 inch set, not uncommon.
Knife pleat, to stripe:
1 inch reveal, 8 inches for each pleat for a 4 inch deep pleat.
for a 24 inch pleated area, one needs 24 facings (1x24), or 24x9=216 inches
(roughly, as I am not taking a few factors into account, for simplicity)

A box pleat has 1/3 of a sett as a facing, 1/3 as the rear facing and 1/6 as each in pleat section (if that makes any sense).
So, that same 9 inch set makes a 3 inch facing.
for a 24 inch pleated area, one needs 8 facings (3x8), or 9x8=72 inches
(roughly, as I am not taking a few factors into account, for simplicity)
(on me, I'd make a small apron

The difference is in the pleats.
In a box pleat, there would be 2 yards in back and 2 in front (counting aprons and reverse pleats).
In a knife pleat, there would be 6 yards in back and 2 in front.

A box pleat also swings a bit different and "feels" rather different.
I think it feels more balanced (front to back), and the facing pleats act as a bit of an "anchor" to the pleats in wind, while the knife spreads like an accordian.
Most box pleats are also made in 16 oz or heavier wool, a BEAR weight in a knife pleat. I havn't had much of a wind problem in my 16 oz box.

A knife has the swing, while a box is, to me, more comfortable to actually wear in daily activities. I am comparing it to a 16 oz 5 yard knife I made first, so I can't imagine sitting and driving in an 8 yarder."

(The original recipient dubbed me "Lord of the Box Pleat.")

**Tattoo Bradley** · 13th May 07, 04:47 PM

To answer your question in English, Ron, it's lighter because it's half the yardage (4 yard box pleat.)

**fluter** · 13th May 07, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

....my Isle of Skye is also 16oz Strome from Lochcarron, but I'd never think of it as "light."

Is that because of the box pleating?

From the pictures of it, your IoS looks to have twice as much fabric!

**Splash_4** · 13th May 07, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by MacWage

The difference is in the pleats.
In a box pleat, there would be 2 yards in back and 2 in front (counting aprons and reverse pleats).
In a knife pleat, there would be 6 yards in back and 2 in front.

Color me embarrased,

I thought he was talking about color, not weight!

**Splash_4** · 13th May 07, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

From the pictures of it, your IoS looks to have twice as much fabric!

Yeah, I am a big guy!!!

My 4 yard box pleat is closer to 5.

**starbkjrus** · 13th May 07, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Okay, help me here....my Isle of Skye is also 16oz Strome from Lochcarron, but I'd never think of it as "light."

Is that because of the box pleating?

I'm sooo confused.

Ron

Perhaps that its a four yard box-pleat? Takes half the weight out of a "tank". It makes a great deal of difference - perfect of hot humid summers in the south and east.