Number of Pleats

[lalonarota]

This question may have been asked and answered here before, but I'm new and not really familiar with past posts...so bear with me if this is a repeat question!
I'm in the process of sewing a self-color kilt that will have a 26" waist and 35" hips. Should there be a minimum number of pleats? At this point, the kilt would have 19 pleats, which seems like too little since I'm used to sewing and seeing kilts with 20 or more pleats.

Any advice would be extremely appreciated! Thank you soo much!

[sydnie7]

What is your apron width -- traditional wide apron (about 17 inches, in this case) or a narrower, more modern apron (as narrow as 12 inches)? Is this a box pleat or knife pleat? Those are factors to consider when discussing pleat size (which then determines pleat count).

I'm sure others will chime in as we get more info. Welcome to the forum!

[Paul Henry]

there isn't an absolute "correct" answer to this, so sometimes it's best to go with your own feelings.
With a tartan kilt where you need to balance the sett size/depth of pleat/reveal calculations , so you don't always have a choice, often the fabric determines how many pleats.
With a plain coloured fabric you have a lot more choices, more pleats means a lot more sewing, but usually more swing as well. In a tradtional Knife pleat style anything from 20 - 30 pleats seems usual. I'd suggest the option of making them as deep as you can and go about the mid 20's if you can, to get the best swish and swing
On my contemporary styled kilts I usually use about 15 pleats , but the fabric is normally cotton/linen so I never expect it to behave in the same way as a woollen cloth one , that number works for me.
As Sydnie says, tell us what sort of kilt and what sort of fabric, but remember there is no absolute right or wrong, just what works!

[Hothir Ethelnor]

A good rule of thumb for and "8 yarder" is to have a pleat reveal of 1/2 to 1 inch wide.

The pleats themselves can vary in depth but a few inches 4-5 is normal.

[EagleJCS]

I count 25 knife-edge pleats (not including the box pleat at the right-hand side) on my Locharron 16-oz. Taking a few spot measurements, the average depth of the pleat appears to be between 4.5" to 5". Per the label inside the front apron: waist 40*, hips 42 1/2, length 21 + 2" rise (the last actually says L21+2R).

The front apron is 21" wide at the top and 22" wide at the bottom (pleat edge to fringe).

Hope that helps.


* Yes, I have a potbelly, and have had it for several years now, but I'm trying to lose it.

[Barb T]

You haven't said how much fabric you have. That's likely to be the deciding factor, unless you haven't used all that you've got. If you have enough fabric, I'd aim for pleats at the hips that are around 3/4". If you don't have enough for pleats that size, go with what you have.