Pleat practice

[Breagh]

Wow thank you! I never thought of using forks to measure but that's an amazing tip, would that work on both kilt wool and the bedsheets?

I am so happy I am on the right track with practicing on bedding and things!

I will have a look at forks and pegs when I am back home!

My next steps were going to be trying to make a kilt out of a curtain, as I have never measured anyone before, in my book I bought it tells me how to mesure so I was going to measure then make a kilt from curtains to see how it fits my partner before getting wool! However would you recommend maybe making a kilt for a child (his is nephew for example out of a duvet? I'm just thinking if it's possible to get a tartan close to there they are Munro.

I really appreciate your help as I said I have gone I to this blind and just working my way thought it with you tube and my wee book!

I have wrote a blog about my journey so far and once I am home I might post it in here to see if I am on the right track, because when I tired to upload a picture onto here it didn't work! 😅

[Pleater]

@Breagh Duvets are a bit lightweight but if the fabric is doubled over you can have the fold at the lower edge, which makes up for there not being a selvedge.

Making kilts from whatever fabrics I had around gave me the opportunity to devise a fairly straightforward method of making them.
I make reverse Kingussie pleats, as normal pleats tend to get me trapped in the local vegetation - heathland and 'managed' woodland, so the two halves left and right are mirror imaged with the pleats pointing to the rear - like a bird's wing.

A fairly normal width of material is 54 inches and so as to use it all I cut across, selvedge to selvedge, and then join the selvedges to have four pieces joined together. So 216 inches to pleat and form the aprons.
At the centre back I make a large inverted pleat about double the size of the smaller ones which requires 24 to 28 inches. These kilts are plain or non tartan pattern so they can vary a little - I have one pleated to the goldfish.

Working from the centre back I measure and clip together suitable lengths to make the outer, visible folds. These are usually 6 to 8 inches, but half way along each side there is a join - and I like to hide that join so it is as invisible as possible fairly close to a fold. 6 and 1/2 inch pleats are quite common.

Getting the pleats formed and counted gives an estimate of the width of the fell in pleats, but each side also needs to have a double width pleat under the apron, the apron itself, and I like to make an edge - if there is enough fabric a couple of folds taking several inches give the edge a bit of weight - if there is barely enough then I might sew on a fairly hefty cotton tape and use hemming tape to hold it folded to the inside of the apron.

Once at that stage it is just a matter of settling the pleats. A fabric with wool in it might be lightly pressed, using a cloth, cottons could get a spray of starch - it is amazing how it is suddenly a kilt - though be careful not to iron pins with plastic heads, as they might melt, and glass ones might shatter. I always pin so the head is towards the edge which hopefully keeps it away from the iron.

Anne the Pleater

[Breagh]

Thank you for the advice!

I am currently make my partner a kilt out of a bed sheet, just to practise which I am very glad I did!
It took a fair while to measure, cut, pin and sew. I have so far managed 18 plates and ran out of material so hand stiched them and based and ironed before adding more material for the remaining 8 plates.

Each hidden fabric has worked out at 10 inch with just under an inch showing before the hidden pleat,

My next step after the addition pleats is to work my way onto the apron folds, I am not sure if I should add buckles for a full practice run.

Thank you!

[Pleater]

@Breagh It seems you have got the pleat size about right - and learned jut how much fabric they eat up!!

I make fastenings from two D rings - I buy one inch across the flats size, to make the inner closure. Two rings are held in a fold of fabric on the inside at the left of the apron. A strap or tape is attached to the edge of the under apron. Closure is quick easy and adjustable. Thread the strap through the two rings, inside to outside, then separate the rings and thread the strap around the outer ring and under the inner ring. When pulled tight the strap is pinched and held. I usually make a couple of folds at the loose end of the strap so if it does slip it can't escape and is easily drawn tight again.

That is the bite referred to in 'the bitter end', or the bight in 'the bighter end' a bight being a loop or U shape.

The right side might merit a strap and buckle but several of mine have Velcro fastenings now that my waist size seems stable. I started making and wearing kilts as they were easy to adjust, with a bit of planning.

My sheets usually end up as English smocks - I was a pleater long before kilts.

Anne the Pleater

[Breagh]

Wow thank you! If I'm honest I haven't thought far enough ahead about straps and my plan there yet but I will get researching tonight! Do you have a link for the loops?
Velcro ever even crossed my mind but that's a magic idea!

With my sheet so far there is one please that is longer than the rest however I am just going to hem it up in some manner.

I have based and stitched my 18 pleates and am going to leave it that way till I add the additional fabric, however I had a stock of luck at the care home I work at one of the residents was a kilt maker so she she is happy to check my practice pleats!

I have a small question I am writing a blog about my kilt journey, would I be able to post a link to it on this forum?

Thank you!

Breagh