Great Kilt Pleats

**Curly** · 19th November 10, 09:30 AM

Dear Friends....I know it's probably heresy to suggest this...but while the foragers go for a stake and dry wood... let me ask anyway...what about doing the "pleat cheat" thing and setting the pleated portion of the Great Kilt?
I have one I love and use mainly for Ren Fairs and the odd times I want to upset my relatives. It would ...it seems ...be easier to don and avoid that rolling around on the ground/floor it seems to require to get the thing on. This is not to say I have no respect for the garment....The very day I was gifted with this I was shown how to wear it and then taken into a 20 ish Michigan winter day...wrapped up and walked about a quarter mile and was breaking a sweat!!
I would value all points of view.
Best, Curly

**xman** · 19th November 10, 09:36 AM

I say go for it. I would stitch in the pleats, stabilise and maybe even use canvas and a lining, but without buckles tugging the kilt around you, the canvas might not be as necessary, and just for the back pleat section. I would do nothing for the 'aprons'. That would save quite a bit of hassle donning the garment and as long as you don't intend to wrap yourself in it as a bedroll you'll be better off.

**Curly** · 19th November 10, 10:17 AM

Well thanks! I quite agree but just my take...Kiltmania I guess.

imagine that !!

**Woodsheal** · 19th November 10, 10:24 AM

I plan on adding belt loops to mine over the winter, and seeing how that works. I doubt the old-time highlanders did the "rolling around on the ground" thing...!

**xman** · 19th November 10, 10:28 AM

As an after thought. You need to think of it as a box pleat and not a knife pleat. Here's a link to the free download supplement to The Art of Kiltmaking on making a box pleat. http://scottishtartans.org/boxpleat.html You might want to just sew the waistline or you might want to sew in the whole thing down to the fell.

**Cynthia** · 19th November 10, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

I plan on adding belt loops to mine over the winter, and seeing how that works. I doubt the old-time highlanders did the "rolling around on the ground" thing...!

Would you consider taking photos and doing a little tutorial with tips?

**Curly** · 19th November 10, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

I plan on adding belt loops to mine over the winter, and seeing how that works. I doubt the old-time highlanders did the "rolling around on the ground" thing...!

Yep I quite agree... I just don't know what they did instead. Im sure they had some method for dressing quickly.

**Tobus** · 19th November 10, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Curly

Yep I quite agree... I just don't know what they did instead. Im sure they had some method for dressing quickly.

My Google-fu is weak, so I can't find it by searching. But I know I've seen articles and discussions of historic evidence showing that some great kilts used loops on the inside, with a cinch rope or strap, to pull the pleats together easily and quickly. There was even a thread on this board about it a while back, where someone pointed to a historic portrait (I think it was a Murray?), suggesting that you can see the ends of his cinch rope poking out.

Can someone find that thread?

**Pleater** · 19th November 10, 12:43 PM

If you want to have a piece of material which can be flattened out for use as bedding but pleated up to wear, you can attach a cord or sturdy tape at the waist of your great kilt. Make a firm fixing where you want to have a fold.

At one end you make a small loop. At the other leave a loose 'tail' for securing around your waist.

Push the unattached bit of cord of the first pleat through the small loop, to make a second loop, then the next bit of cord through that loop, so it forms a chain st, and keep making the loops all along the waistline.

That will reduce the length of the cord to one third of what it was when laid out flat.

Once you have made the chain and passed the 'tail' through the last loop, fold the fabric so you can get the pleats around you with the upper part of the kilt on the outside. Tie the cord.

It would work with the cord on the inside or the outside of the kilt, but might be easier to preen the folds if on the inside, then a belt put around to hold them in place.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Madadh** · 19th November 10, 12:33 PM

I have two great kilts and have pre-sewn the pleats into each of them. When you look at the history of the great kilt, they would take a long section of plaid, say 9 yds x 30 inches. Cut it in half and them sew it to make a 4.5 yrd x 60 inch great kilt. If they could sew the two pieces together, why not add the pleats to make it easier to don.