Always wondered - time to ask

[Jock Scot]

What a good question! I am no expert, so no doubt an answer will be forthcoming from those that know, but as far as I know, they are just called large setts of a particular tartan.

If I may, can I add a question or three? With these large setts how difficult is it to pleat say a knife pleated kilt to the sett? Is it easier to pleat to the stripe? Alright, I understand some tartans are quite complicated, but for example how about a Montgomery, or a MacNeil?

[slohairt]

Jock,

Simplicity of design wouldn't factor that much, really. It would depend how often a certain element is repeated within the sett. If only once, then you would have to use the whole sett per pleat, regardless of whether you're pleating to the sett or stripe. If an element occurs more than once, then more pleats per sett could be produced.

Kilts made in really big setts tend to have fewer pleats overall than their smaller sett counterparts.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Kilts made in really big setts tend to have fewer pleats overall than their smaller sett counterparts.

To illustrate the point, here is a kilt I made using just over 5 yards of cloth. The sett size is fairly typical, I think 7" or thereabouts. I believe there are 16 pleats in this one.


This second kilt is made to the exact same measurements, from 6 yards of cloth. But the sett is larger, I believe 9.75". So despite having slightly more cloth, I only have 12 pleats.


(The reason I cannot be more precise the numbers above is that both kilts are hanging in my closet, and I don't want to disturb my slumbering wife in the bedroom!)