Mil.Box Pleat ?Baste? ?Iron? Tutorial Needed
Matt & Barb, and other kiltmakers, how do you baste and iron a military box pleated kilt?
And @box pleated kilt wearers on XMarks, how do you maintain your box pleated kilts? Do you all baste and iron your kilts following a wash? Must the pleats be basted before ironing?
I have seen tutorials on basting and ironing knife pleated kilts, but none on basting and ironing Box pleated kilts. Barbs book doesn't seem to address this.
'
Can someone tell the full story?
I reenact the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders as they fought in WWII, 1939-1946. In contrast to some units, the Argylls wore box pleated kilts, not knife pleated, in the Government Sett [Black Watch tartan to some]. I am interested in learning how to wash and iron my box pleated kilts.
Here is a "new" one with the basting stiches still in, ex military surplus [MOD contractor]. It looks like a complex procedure was used, in which the pleats were compacted for purposes of putting the stiches in each pleat, and there is a bit of thread run through the center of the "box" in the pleat.
Can someone demonstrate and describe how to do this? I know that there are some folks on here who have some experience with military kilt making.
Here are some photos showing what I am referring to in order to get the discussion started:
Pleat Overview with Basting Stiches

Closer Rear View Basted Box Pleats

Close Up of the Underside, Showing Pleat Compaction
"Before two notes of the theme were played, Colin knew it was Patrick Mor MacCrimmon's 'Lament for the Children'...Sad seven times--ah, Patrick MacCrimmon of the seven dead sons....'It's a hard tune, that', said old Angus. Hard on the piper; hard on them all; hard on the world." Butcher's Broom, by Neil Gunn, 1994 Walker & Co, NY, p. 397-8.
Bookmarks