OK.....I've had something eating away at me for months now. A while back I picked up a casual kilt in a 16OZ tartan that I just wasn't satisfied with. There was nothing wrong with the kilt or construction, its just that the WAY it was constructed didn't appeal to me, so I passed it to my brother who wanted it and who is not quite the kilted snob as I am. anyway, he recently returned it since he has lost more weight and it won't notch tight anymore on him. My only real issue with this kilt is that the front apron is squared, not flared. This reminded me of how my mother makes her kilted skirts, and when I talked to her about it it, she said that this technique is used when less material is used. The first folded pleat and the last are deeper than normal, and when worn give an illusion of the front apron flaring out. The look just wasn't for me.

So.......I'm thinking that I can deconstruct this kilt and make a Box Pleat. I've never deconstructed a kilt to alter or remake, so I figured that as a kilt maker i should be able to do this. The yardage and the sett are perfect for this endeavor, but I just don't know if previous pleating will "line" the fabric, or if removing the machine stitching will weaken the fabric over all. Could I de-stitch the fabric and then soak it in cold water for a few hours then stretch and lay it out in the sun to dry, then press the material??? anyone ever done something like this? thanks for any help-Josh