The endless military box pleat questions...

**Tartan Tess** · 15th February 12, 10:40 AM

OK, I have to admit, I am a glutton for punishment....driving a school bus for 32 years, riding mules instead of horses etc.I am crazy.
And now I want to make a military box pleat kilt and I have been searching and reading and re reading all the threads on it for two days and am still a bit stumped on how to start the darn thing. Way2fractious, john and a few others have posted some great stuff but I am confused on how to start it.
Do I set up the pleats and fold them back onto themselves, baste them all down from the bottom and then taper the mess above the hip line?
One says to try and make the pleats 1" but if I have a hip measurement of 40" and the possibility for 32 pleats should I try and fold and sew them with a tweezer? should I just pour a Large glass of wine and look at the monitor some more? Arrrugh!
i just need to get started then I know it will all fall into place...right?

**Father Bill** · 15th February 12, 10:42 AM

The wine sounds good, but there are other suggestions more common on this forum.

No idea about pleating, but my respect and admiration for being willing to try it!

**Grizzly** · 15th February 12, 11:21 AM

No doubt our experts on box pleating will chime in. Me I would pour that glass of wine and when thats finished have another until you get an answer.

Hats off to you for having a go. I look forward to the pictures of the progress.

**Calico** · 15th February 12, 01:37 PM

What, you aren't going to go for the double-box pleat à la Lady Chrystel?

I've only done knife pleats, sorry. No help from this quarter. Unless you want help with drinking the wine...

**Tartan Tess** · 15th February 12, 02:47 PM

Pray for me Father Bill :0)
I am doing this kilt as a trade and I am sure the gentleman won't be bummed if I just can't do it and he gets a nice knife pleat one but did I mention I am a mule....er, I mean stubborn?

**Grizzly** · 15th February 12, 02:51 PM

post deleted

**auld argonian** · 15th February 12, 02:52 PM

http://www.scottishtartans.org/boxpleat.html

...I thought that everybody knew about this...

Best

AA

**jhockin** · 15th February 12, 02:58 PM

I am in NO WAY an "expert", but I have made one MBP, so ( until the real experts do post) : I suggest you worry less about the total number of pleats, and concern yourself more about making the 'face' of each pleat show the 'elements' ( ex.: the stripe centered, etc) that you wish to display.
The way I did it, was to baste all the pleats, from the bottom of the kilt, to the bottom of the fell, and then taper each pleat through the fell. (If you wish, I could post some photos. There was a LOT of basting involved, but it was well worth the effort, as I am very pleased with the finished product.) Good luck, and be sure to let us all see some photos of the finished kilt - please?

**Tartan Tess** · 15th February 12, 03:04 PM

Thanks AA this is a box pleat with a "Twist" so to speak.
Jhokin, i have studied your posts too. did you start at the over apron and work left (top of the kilt nearest you) laying out the pleat towards the left and then folding onto itself so the edge of the pleat is toward the over apron?
This will be an xmarks tartan pleated to "No stripe"

**jhockin** · 15th February 12, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Tess

Thanks AA this is a box pleat with a "Twist" so to speak.
Jhokin, i have studied your posts too. did you start at the over apron and work left (top of the kilt nearest you) laying out the pleat towards the left and then folding onto itself so the edge of the pleat is toward the over apron?
This will be an xmarks tartan pleated to "No stripe"

Yes, I did start at the overapron, but, as you'll see, I did not stitch down the hip curves, and I included a deep hidden pleat, on both sides of the pleats.