Steward Old Sett question

[KFCarter]

I think it's a great tartan, especially in the Weathered shades. It also has a huge sett, about 15 inches or so.

Does the size of this sett present challenges when making a kilt?

[slohairt]

It would depend on what style of pleating you selected. If it were pleated to, say, the red stripe within the black (charcoal) you could get away with using only half of the sett per pleat. They would still be fairly large pleats, however!

[KFCarter]

It would depend on what style of pleating you selected. If it were pleated to, say, the red stripe within the black (charcoal) you could get away with using only half of the sett per pleat. They would still be fairly large pleats, however!

Well, what are the options ( and please excuse my total ignorance on this):
is it even possible to pleat to sett with such a large sett?

I kind of like the idea of pleating to that red strip in the charcoal... what are the issues with the large pleats, does this increase the amount of material needed, etc?

[kiltedsawyer]

I vote for the weathered shades, but I suppose it depends on what you have in your wardrobe already. Either way,...enjoy!
David

[slohairt]

Yes, it can be pleated to the sett. Obviously, if you included the full sett within each pleat you would have 15" deep pleats (plus whatever pleat reveal). This would use a lot of fabric. For someone with 40" hips using pleats with a 1" reveal you would need somewhere around 11 yards!

Most kilt makers would probably 'cheat' the pleats, by using the same looking element but making some of the pleats shallower. If you wanted uniform pleat depth (but not 15" pleats!) pleating to the stripe is the best bet.

[KFCarter]

Yes, it can be pleated to the sett. Obviously, if you included the full sett within each pleat you would have 15" deep pleats (plus whatever pleat reveal). This would use a lot of fabric. For someone with 40" hips using pleats with a 1" reveal you would need somewhere around 11 yards!

Most kilt makers would probably 'cheat' the pleats, by using the same looking element but making some of the pleats shallower. If you wanted uniform pleat depth (but not 15" pleats!) pleating to the stripe is the best bet.

Great info, thanks! I think I would prefer knife pleats with a uniform pleat depth and I rather like the idea of pleating to that red stripe in the charcoal.

[slohairt]

You're welcome! I've made a kilt in that tartan once, though it was in the Ancient colours and it turned out very nice pleated in the same way.