Mike is going to have the same pattern in the horizontal of the kilt no matter how he pleats it. That's just the way it works. :-)

What I think Jimmy is talking about is a kilt pleated, not to a line, but to a solid color. That picture of the MacGregor kilt that beerbeque posted is not an example of this. It is pleated to the white line. Now, imagine that kilt pleated to the solid red block. You would not see *any* vertical stripes on the back of the kilt. All you would see is the horizontal pattern of the sett.

So, the same pattern is always there in the horizontal. It's just if you choose a solid color to pleat to, rather than a stripe, it stands out all the more.

I don't agree with Jimmy 100%. Pleating this way can look good. Again, it all depends on the tartan. Pleating this way is *very* unusual, though, so you will have a different looking kilt.

I, personally, favor pleating to the stripe, just because I think it looks better. All my kilts are pleated that way.

Aye,
Matt