MacDonald Pleats

[ForresterModern]

Box pleats for the MacDonald set are a grand idea, as the width of the pleats at the fell should be bigger lessening the likelihood of the dreaded disappearing strip phenomenon.

[slohairt]

MacDonald, Ministry of Defense, regiment unknown, military box pleat:


MacDonald of Clanranald, box pleat:

For this box pleat, my workable choices were the red stripes in the blue, or red in the green. The white was not an option for a box pleat (at least, not one I saw ). I went with the red in blue because it worked best with the yardage I was working with.

I believe the Nova Scotia Highlanders pleat their MacDonald kilts with alternating blue/green.

[xman]

I believe the Nova Scotia Highlanders pleat their MacDonald kilts with alternating blue/green.

I'm still waiting for my brother's pics of his NSH pleats, but that could be the case. I recently found this in a search.

It's also possible that there were a few variations.

Incidentally, I can't see those alternating green/blue pleats being very deep. They must be less than 3", yes?

[slohairt]

Depending on the reveal, probably a bit deeper, about 3.5 inches or so. The repeat on some MacDonald 16-17 oz. Heavyweight I have here is 19 cm (7.5 inches).

Military kilts with shallow pleats are pretty common, especially when made from, say, Black Watch, Gordon, or Hunting Stewart where only half of the sett is used.

[xman]

Depending on the reveal, probably a bit deeper, about 3.5 inches or so. The repeat on some MacDonald 16-17 oz. Heavyweight I have here is 19 cm (7.5 inches).

I'm afraid I don't get the math on that. To alternate green/blue you'd either be using half the set, 3 1/2". With a 1/2" reveal that's 3" divided by 2 = 1 1/1" deep pleats; OR you could use a set and a half, 10 1/2". With a 1/2" reveal that's 10" divided by 2 = 5" deep pleats. Either of those seems less than ideal to me. Is there something I'm missing?

[slohairt]

I'm afraid I don't get the math on that. To alternate green/blue you'd either be using half the set, 3 1/2". With a 1/2" reveal that's 3" divided by 2 = 1 1/1" deep pleats; OR you could use a set and a half, 10 1/2". With a 1/2" reveal that's 10" divided by 2 = 5" deep pleats. Either of those seems less than ideal to me. Is there something I'm missing?

Lol! No, I made a mistake. I was thinking of a customer's kilt from a little while ago: MacDonald pleated to the green block!

Anyhow, to get a good alternate blue/green the distance between them is 22.5 cm, so you'd be using a little bit more than a full sett. Assuming a 1.25 cm reveal, you'd have pleats 10.625 cm deep.

[xman]

Yeah, I get that. Cheers, John!

[Wompet]

jtmilisits and Seán - thanks for the regimental identification.

Macmillan's son - thanks for the compliment (at least for the one I sewed). The MacDonald MoD does have the 4" military "high-rise", and unfortunately I haven't uploaded any good pictures of the front. As for the tartan, it's the "standard" MacDonald - the closest color match in USAKilt's gallery is the Marton Mills 16 oz.

To alternate green/blue you'd either be using half the set, 3 1/2". With a 1/2" reveal that's 3" divided by 2 = 1 1/1" deep pleats...

I just replied to xman in a PM, but since others may be interested - the Mod has 36 pleats, 1¼" deep with a ½" reveal.

[jtmilisits]

All the thanks should go to Keltoi. I just ordered a Macdonald kilt from him and he's the one who told me about the Nova Scotia Highlanders pleat.

[slohairt]

All the thanks should go to Keltoi. I just ordered a Macdonald kilt from him and he's the one who told me about the Nova Scotia Highlanders pleat.

And here is said customer referred to earlier! (MacDonald Modern Military Box-Pleated to the green block.)