Pleating to Horizontal ?!

[The Wizard of BC]

One of the problems we have in kilt making is that everyone seems to use their own words to describe the same thing. There is not an accepted single term for stuff.

Maybe it would be helpful if I describe what this "to the Horizontal" is.

If you look at any Tartan you can easily see the horizontal and vertical stripes. Now look at the spaces between the stripes.

If you were to pleat your Tartan to any prominent vertical stripe the effect when pleated has a strong vertical look. This is what we normally call "To the Stripe"

But now, look at your Tartan again and find an area where there is no strong or prominent vertical element. If you were to use this area for your pleats you would do the pleating in the same way that you would for "To the Stripe" but the end result would look totally different to your eye.
Another kilt maker I know calls this "Pleating to No Stripe"

The best example I can give you is by using the Isle of Skye Tartan.



This Tartan has only one really good vertical element for "Pleating to the Stripe" This is the Green band with the white stripe.




This Tartan can be pleated to the area of the blue and brown stripes but the effect is less pleasing to most eyes. The overall effect is still vertical though.



But what if you look at the brown band and treat it like a stripe even if there is "No Stripe".


I think you can now see that the overall effect is no longer vertical. This is "Pleating to the Horizontal".
Rocky of USA Kilts once called this "The Dread Lawnchair Effect".



Here is a Kilt in Isle of Skye "Pleated to No Stripe" or "Pleated to the Horizontal".


I think you can see that the overall effect is primarily horizontal. The Isle of Skye Tartan is one of the few that can be pleated like this and not look, how shall I say this, off.
Ask any lady. They will tell you that Vertical stripes are slimming, Horizontal stripes,,,well, not.
So when ever I put on my Isle of Skye kilt I stand in front of the mirror and say "Hey, honey, do these pleats make my butt look fat?"