Sett or stripe?

[canawler]

I'm not really sure how to ask what I'm looking for. I know what pleating to the sett and stripe means and that the military used stripe but what I want to know is what features specifically do you look for in the tartan that indicate whether it would look good pleated a certain way. All tartans look good pleated to the sett but only some look good to the stripe. As an example, when I ordered a grey granite tartan kilt from USAkilts and I asked about pleating, it was recommended that I go with the sett (and I am sure this was the right choice.) What about that tartan makes it unsuitable to be pleated to the stripe (or no stripe?) I ask this as a general question for times when you don't have the material in front of you and you don't have a graphics editor (or the knowledge to use one) to experiment with.

[canawler]

Bye the way, is there a recommended graphics editor that is easy to use for such a task?

[ccga3359]

I would think is there a dominant stripe that stands out more than others? A yellow would be more effective than a red. I'd also look at what is being hidden in the pleat as when you are swishing a lighter stripe hidden in the pleat is exposed for dramatic effect. I don't think that there is really a set(t) answer to your question. For example the recent US Army tartan that USAK made has two yellow stripes very close together. To me this might be too busy looking, but if you look at the recent postings it did work. Check out http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23840's thread in regarding this forementioned tartan, his thoughts and the replies. It is a very interesting read. When all is said and done it probably is wise to listen to your kilt makers opinion.

[ccga3359]

Also check out this thread.