Box pleats vs double box pleats

[tooltruckguy]

I'm considering a box pleat kilt in the Polaris Military tartan for my next purchase. I'm somewhat confused by some of the posts I've seen here. Some refer to box pleat and some to double box pleats, are they the same thing? If not what is the difference?

Thanks for your help.

If this isn't in the right forum please feel free to move it to the correct one.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Box pleated kilts are a traditional style that dated back to the end of the eighteenth century. The original tailored kilt was box pleated and made of about 4 yards of cloth, as compared to the knife (side) pleated, 8 yard kilt that is typical today.

I make traditional four yard box pleated kilts. There are some good illustrations showing the difference between these kilts and the modern knife pleated kilts here:
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

Lady Chrystel of France (and a member of this forum) makes kilts in what she describes as a "double box pleated" style. As far as I know she is the innovator of this style of pleating in a kilt. As the name implies, each pleat is folded over twice (or doubled) to give the pleat somewhat of an "accordian" look. It uses more cloth and will give more bulk to the back of the kilt.

Here is an illustration from her web site showing the differences in pleating styles. Pay attention to the middle two.


Her web site is:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/lady.chrystel/kilts.html

Both her web site and mine have picture galleries of some of the kilts we have made, so spend some time browsing and you'll get a sense of the two different styles.

[Dan R Porter]

I would never want to have to press a rolled pleat. Scary.

[slohairt]

I would never want to have to press a rolled pleat. Scary.

It would be a very light press, but, yeah, lots of room for 'ghosting'!

[tooltruckguy]

Thanks for the speedy reply. Now I need to get off my duff and do some serious thinking.

[Dan R Porter]

Tooltruckguy,

Check out this thread. It has great photos and even a video of the double box. I am so close to pulling the trigger it isn't even funny.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/d...827/index.html

[Bugbear]

I asked about pressing a box pleat, and Barb said it would also be a fairly light press too. Although, I have a feeling it would be easier for me to press a box pleat than a knife pleat. I also have a feeling that a double box might be more difficult to press than a single box, but I don't know for sure.

[ChattanCat]

I asked about pressing a box pleat, and Barb said it would also be a fairly light press too. Although, I have a feeling it would be easier for me to press a box pleat than a knife pleat. I also have a feeling that a double box might be more difficult to press than a single box, but I don't know for sure.

Pressing is easier for a knife pleat - just press the dickens out of it. The box pleat requires a lighter touch so you don't show the under box pleat in the reveal.

[attworth]

Military box pleats are not an easy thing to press. Takes a lot of care and patience when basting.