Opinions on box v knife pleats

[way2fractious]

Hmmm... Flagstaff, AZ. Doesn't it get really hot there?

Earlier this year I made a 4-yd box-pleat from 16 oz wool tartan. I often reach for this kilt because (5) it looks good, (4) it has a substantial feel, (3) it is balanced (2-yds front, 2-yds back), (2) the pleats hold well in the 16 oz fabric, (1) it is light, breezy, and comfortable - just what a kilt is supposed to be.

Just this week I finished my 8-yd "tank" using the 13 oz XMarksTheScot tartan. During the sewing and the fittings, I was very aware of the "unbalanced" feel (2-yds front, 6-yds back.) There is enough wool, in enough layers, in the back to keep my backside warm during a polar storm (such storms happen rarely in California.)

One thing I learned making this one is that there is a lot more sewing just to kilt up a lot more fabric. Maybe I'm just lazy, but any more kilts I make for myself will not be 8-yd "tanks"; if made for others, they may be.

I just need a couple more casuals (or hillwalkers), a couple more box-pleats, and a military box-pleat to round out my kilt wardrobe. Then I need a couple more belts, and a few more sporrans, another sgian dubh or two, ... oh, and maybe a waistcoat... <wander off muttering> ...

[Ialtog]

Well, way2fractious, Flagstaff is up at 7,000 feet, so heat isn't so much of a problem. Here, we start whining when it gets up into the mid 80s (F). I recently went back to my home state of Indiana - in August - and now I remember what heat is really like.

The opinions here have, as usual, been fantastic. I've been looking at a lot of your photos, and comparing the look of the box pleat and knife pleat in the yardage I'd like for kilt #2. I'm 99% sure I'm going to get my County Armagh with the box pleat now. I can also get a four yard Ulster with knife pleats for #3. One lesson I've learned here is you really can't have too many anyway....