A left handed question

[Robert Lamb]

Is there some unwritten or even written law that says a kilt can't be pleated left to right?

[Bugbear]

Yes, it's "Man Law" number 36920. All knife pleats on men's kilts shall and only shal be pleated from left to right, with the edge of the front apron being on the right side. So let it be heard; so let it be written. * I forgot to add the ceremonial "Ahuma Huma," after that... I will punnish myself.*
This wouldn't be aplicable in the case of box pleated kilts.

For real though, I read in some thread that this all had to do with the placement of the sword on the left hand side of the body or something like that. HWho knows...

[Dirk Skene]

Yes, it's "Man Law" number 36920. ........................

Yer' darn tootin'

[Bugbear]

I was about to go look up the thread that this was talked about... It was in relation to kilted skirts being sold as kilts on the internet.

If it is easy to find, I will post a link. If it becomes difficult to find that exact thread, I will give up and let someone else do it in acordence with "Man Law" 293. You know the law.
* I had to log back into the forum because of a bad internet connection. I think I will give up now... I am within my "Man Rights."

[slohairt]

Historically, I believe there were some Irish saffron kilts made for Pádraig Pearse's St. Enda School that were pleated that way.

[way2fractious]

It has more to do with most kiltmakers being right handed (that - and military regulations setting such things in stone.) If you were to sew a traditional kilt left handed, the pleats would fall the other way.

[McClef]

Although I am left handed, and not a kiltmaker, I wonder if that would create problems when it comes to the kick pleat?

[Garin]

In my own (very short) kilt-making and -wearing career, I've found that no matter what is done with the style of the pleats, most people think it looks great and a tiny fraction of self-appointed experts will tell you exactly how it's all wrong. If they don't mention the pleats, they'll talk about your "right" to wear a given tartan (or a kilt at all!). Some folks say the material must be wool, fresh from Scottish sheep, hand-dyed and woven by virginal weavers in the confines of a tiny little artisan's shack in the highlands, preferably by candle-light alone. Others insist that the only "true" kilt is some kind of great kilt, and anything else is modern play-dress ridiculosity.

I learned quickly to ignore what anyone says and just make/wear whatever I want to wear.

And, to actually answer your question (rather than just rant), I have never seen or heard any true regulation besides military standards and tailor-tradition, as mentioned by others. Kilts have enough variation between them already that mere pleat-direction seems a trivial variant.

[way2fractious]

Although I am left handed, and not a kiltmaker, I wonder if that would create problems when it comes to the kick pleat?

Such a kilt would probably have a deep pleat on the right side of the underapron and an inverted pleat on the left side of the apron.

(...unless it was made to fasten on the left hip. )

w2f

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Garin, Welcome!

I agree with everything you have written and find it very amusing. I'm left handed and currently (finally) finding the time to start seriously tackling my first hand sewn "tank". Not sure exactly what I will do-become right handed? Pleat the opposite direction?

We'll see!

Be well,