Knife pleated V Box pleated

[Norbo]

whets the main difference . I've looked at both and cant really see a big difference can some one please enlighten me. if the Box a little wider pleats ?

[McMurdo]

They are two completely different pleating styles. You can choose whichever you prefer. I would say most people are more used to seeing the knife pleat as the box pleat is an older style. One other thing about box pleats is you can normally get a box pleated kilt in 4 yards whereas the smallest yardage knife pleated kilt I've ever seen is a 5 yard.

[Steve Ashton]

Here is actual fabric folded in the same was as McMurdo's illustration.

Here are knife pleats pleated to The Sett.



And knife pleats pleated to the White Stripe.




And here are box pleats pleated to the Yellow Stripe.

[KSmedic]

Is there a difference in when the various types of pleating would be used? I'm mainly wondering if one type is considered more formal than another, or if it's really just a matter of whatever the wearer prefers and/or the whim of the kiltmaker.

[Father Bill]

The box pleats were more common until around the mid 19th century. Knife pleats are now the norm, but there seems to be a small revival of box pleats. I love mine; they're cooler, lighter, and cheaper!

[KSmedic]

Gotcha. That makes sense. I could see from Steve's pictures that the box pleated fabric wound up making a thinner kilt, but I didn't know if they were considered old-fashioned, or formal, or what. I can also see that the tartan pattern could wind up as a factor in which pleating style winds up looking the best.

[piperdbh]

Is there a difference in when the various types of pleating would be used? I'm mainly wondering if one type is considered more formal than another, or if it's really just a matter of whatever the wearer prefers and/or the whim of the kiltmaker.

No, pleating style does not determine fomality of the kilt. The whims of the kiltmaker shouldn't be a factor in a bespoke kilt; each detail should be chosen by the (knowledgable) customer. Kiltmakers who have retail shops (like Rocky and Steve) are free to make kilts however they choose, in hopes that someone will buy them, but if the kiltmaker is making a custom kilt just for you, then he or she will work with you to make exactly the kilt you want.

[Terry1948]

No, pleating style does not determine fomality of the kilt. The whims of the kiltmaker shouldn't be a factor in a bespoke kilt; each detail should be chosen by the (knowledgable) customer. Kiltmakers who have retail shops (like Rocky and Steve) are free to make kilts however they choose, in hopes that someone will buy them, but if the kiltmaker is making a custom kilt just for you, then he or she will work with you to make exactly the kilt you want.

I cannot speak for Rocky at USA Kilts (since I have not yet ordered from him), but Freedom Kilts is a custom kilt maker who also has a retail shop. When I went in to discuss the kilt to be made for my wedding, we reviewed different options for pleating (samples of different pleating styles were presented) and I made the decision on the final selection. I did look at box pleats, and liked them, but finally decided on a knife pleat. My selection was not based on whether one style was more formal than the other, just personal preference for the final appearance.