Difference between a box and double box pleated kilt?

**Jordan** · 6th August 10, 07:30 PM

I am in the process of deciding on my next kilt, I have picked a tartan, a kilt maker and I only need a few more beer tokens to get the ball rolling, but I can’t decide between a box and double box pleated kilt.
So I thought I would ask the Rabble who have one or preferably both what they’re opinions of them are. I only have Knife pleated kilts just now but I do want a box of some variety I just can’t seem to find anywhere the difference between them, Weight, Swish, Look and feel etc. Currently all of my tartan kilts are knife pleated but I do have a UK which I believe is Kingussie so I’m curious about how box pleated kilts feel compared to the knife pleated ones.

Jordan

P.S. I haven’t put up a thread in ages and now two in two hours

**xman** · 6th August 10, 08:12 PM

If I may, much as I am not a fan of the box pleated look, this is an elegant garment.

**Nighthawk** · 6th August 10, 11:10 PM

I don't have a box pleated kilt, but I do have a double box pleat, and I have two 5 yard knife pleat kilts. So I'll make the comparison there. The 5 yarders are nice, but nothing like an 8 yard knife. The swish isn't comparable, and the pleats need pressed a lot more often. So unlike X Man, I love the look of the box pleated kilt, but I really love the feel of a full 8 yards of tartan. My double box has a weight, feel and swing that is very much like my 8 yard knife pleat, but it has the killer look of a box. It's really the best of both! I highly recomend the double, just on merit of the amount of fabric alone!

**RockyR** · 7th August 10, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Jordan

SNIP... UK which I believe is Kingussie...

Small point of clarification for those who aren't sure of the difference...

UK's are REVERSE Kingussie, meaning that the knife edges of the pleats point away from the apron and meet in the back.

Kingussie pleating has 1 WIDE pleat in the center of the back and all pleat edges point toward the front apron.

Sorry for going O/T... back to topic.

Not having either, I can only give an educated guess... Assuming the double box pleat uses a couple yards more cloth, I'd assume the swish would be a little better on the double. I'm basing that opinion on my observation of the swish of a 5 yard KNIFE pleated kilt compared to an 8 yard KNIFE pleated kilt.

**Geoff Withnell** · 7th August 10, 06:10 AM

I have a Tewksbury box pleat, and a Lady Chrystel double box pleat. I love them both. The single box pleat is a better balanced garment, with the weight more evenly distributed. The double has more weight in the back, and consequently more swing/swish. Which do I prefer?
depends on my mood.

Geoff Withnell

**Jordan** · 7th August 10, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

UK's are REVERSE Kingussie, meaning that the knife edges of the pleats point away from the apron and meet in the back.

Kingussie pleating has 1 WIDE pleat in the center of the back and all pleat edges point toward the front apron.

Thanks rocky that is interesting to know and I’ll try to remember it for next time.

I’m leaning towards a Box pleat just now so I think it will just be a case of how I feel when I order the cloth.

Of course I could just get one of each but that won’t happen right away

Jordan

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 8th August 10, 04:23 AM

One of the major advantages of a traditional four yard box pleated kilt, to me, is that it is a lighter weight, more balanced kilt. All that adds up to more comfort.

I've never worn one of Lady Chrystel's "double box pleated" kilts, but it seems to me that it would be just as heavy as a standard 8 yard knife pleated kilt, with most of the weight concentrated in the back, like any 8 yard kilt.

So if you want a kilt that looks like an historic four yard kilt, but feels like a modern eight yard kilt, that's what the double box pleated kilt was invented for.

**MacMillans son** · 8th August 10, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

One of the major advantages of a traditional four yard box pleated kilt, to me, is that it is a lighter weight, more balanced kilt. All that adds up to more comfort.

I've never worn one of Lady Chrystel's "double box pleated" kilts, but it seems to me that it would be just as heavy as a standard 8 yard knife pleated kilt, with most of the weight concentrated in the back, like any 8 yard kilt.

So if you want a kilt that looks like an historic four yard kilt, but feels like a modern eight yard kilt, that's what the double box pleated kilt was invented for.

I have a related question for Matt, if I may Jordan?

Matt,

Although I understand the historic, as well as the balance, issues, I am not a big fan of the barrel stave look of a 4 yard box pleated kilt. I know that some people really like a 6 yard knife pleated to achieve the balance and the movement. My question is, have you ever done a 6 yard box with narrower pleats? Or would that be an unwise compromise?

And, would that construction increase the movement ("swish") of the pleats ?

Thanks,
Brooke

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th August 10, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan's son

I have a related question for Matt, if I may Jordan?

Matt,

Although I understand the historic, as well as the balance, issues, I am not a big fan of the barrel stave look of a 4 yard box pleated kilt. I know that some people really like a 6 yard knife pleated to achieve the balance and the movement. My question is, have you ever done a 6 yard box with narrower pleats? Or would that be an unwise compromise?

And, would that construction increase the movement ("swish") of the pleats ?

Thanks,
Brooke

No, I never have, but there is no reason why I couldn't. Yes, it would increase the "swish" a bit, because adding extra weight to the back of the kilt would tend to give it more movement.

**Geoff Withnell** · 9th August 10, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

One of the major advantages of a traditional four yard box pleated kilt, to me, is that it is a lighter weight, more balanced kilt. All that adds up to more comfort.

I've never worn one of Lady Chrystel's "double box pleated" kilts, but it seems to me that it would be just as heavy as a standard 8 yard knife pleated kilt, with most of the weight concentrated in the back, like any 8 yard kilt.

So if you want a kilt that looks like an historic four yard kilt, but feels like a modern eight yard kilt, that's what the double box pleated kilt was invented for.

Well, I am a person of considerable size, and my double box pleat only took 3 meters of double width. And per her website, this is the standard. I don't own a wool 8 yard tank, so I can't compare, but the swish appears about the same, but it's about 2 yards less fabric.

Geoff Withnell