My advice if you want to make a knife-pleat kilt (you're asking for my advice, right?) is to make a box-pleat first and using the x-kilt instructions; that will really help you to understand what a kilt IS. Then get some inexpensive fabric and make your first knife-pleat. I like mid-weight denim 'cause it's wearable as a work kilt and fairly inexpensive if the whole thing is a loss.

Then use what you learn from that one, step up to nicer fabric, and go again. Learn from that one, and make yet another. And take notes as you go!!

This is the path I followed, and now I'm moving on to reverse-Kingussie pleating. Once you have a few under your belt - especially if you've screwed them up a few times and learned from your experience - you can make intelligent design decisions and come out with satisfying results.

Strive for the best quality you can achieve, care about your work, and cut yourself some slack if you don't achieve perfection.

Good luck, have fun, and walk with pride in your self-made kilt.

boB