Fly Plaids....talk to me. I am ignorant

**Alan H** · 2nd November 05, 12:27 PM

OK, so I have about 2.5 yards of 30-inch wide tartan left over from what I cut out for my first wool kilt. I was going to use it for a philabeig for Ren Faire, but there's simply not enough material. So maybe I'll turn it into a fly plaid.

However, I have not the slightest clue about the structure of a fly plaid. I'm under the impression that they're simply a rectangle of material about 4 feet long and 18 inches wide with (in some cases) a crease sewn in at one corner to make tucking them through the jacket epaulette a bit easier. I'd probably unravel about 4 inches of fabric along the edges and tie/braid the weft off like this picture..

Then again, I think that the edges on this thing looks like a LOT of work. How about plain old hemmed edge? Aside from this, I have no idea what the deal is with a fly plaid. I now notice that the plaid in the picture above is not tucked into the epaulette at all. OK, so now I'm REALLY clueless. Any and all information welcome....clue me in here! Can you wear one with an Argyll-style jacket, say in charcoal?

**cavscout** · 2nd November 05, 12:34 PM

Alexis Malcolm has some good reference on this topic.

http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.bigstep.com/generic23.html

**Sciuropterus** · 2nd November 05, 02:21 PM

Fly Plaids are SQUARE. SAHSES are rectangular like you describe, and are not worn by men- sashes are a ladies accessory. They should really only be worn for the most formal situations, like if you are the groom at your wedding. They can either have a plain fringe or a twisted fringe edge- on all 4 sides. Not hemmed.

There are other types of plaids such as drummers plaids that tie at the waist and long piper plaids that wrap around the chest, those should really only be worn as part of a band uniform.
Piper plaids make great picnic blankets, I keep one rolled up on the front of my Harley.

I'm fairly sure the plaid in that photo is pulled thru the eapaulat, it just doesn't show.

**flyv65** · 2nd November 05, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

...Aside from this, I have no idea what the deal is with a fly plaid. I now notice that the plaid in the picture above is not tucked into the epaulette at all. OK, so now I'm REALLY clueless. Any and all information welcome....clue me in here! Can you wear one with an Argyll-style jacket, say in charcoal?

Well, it was my understanding that the fly plaid is typically tucked under the epaulette on the left shoulder of a formal doublet, although it's being seen more and more often with the Prince Charlie as well. I wouldn't wear a fly plaid with an Argyle jacket (I don't think it's formal enough, and less so in charcoal), but that is just one man's opinion: I also won't wear the plaid on my left shoulder 'cuz I'm left handed...my choice. I've seen some plaids stitched in pleats to fit under the epaulette, some not, some big, some with perled fringe, some that matched the kilt, etc. etc.. Try it out the way you think it'll work, and see if you like it.

Bryan...I like the look of the plaid, but mostly for formalwear (obviously)...

Bryan...

**Alan H** · 2nd November 05, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sciuropterus

They can either have a plain fringe or a twisted fringe edge- on all 4 sides. Not hemmed.

I'm fairly sure the plaid in that photo is pulled thru the eapaulat, it just doesn't show.

Square? Lord, how do you get all the material through?

Fringed, though...I hadn't thought of that. That's not nearly so much work as the twisted fringe in the pic. I could deal with that.

*********************

I wear a tuxedo about once every other year now that I'm not playing in a symphony, so I'll never have a Prince Charlie. When playing classical music on stage, a bright red kilt is not quite the thing, you know? Not so for Jazz but I'd never wear a kilt and plaid as symphony dress on stage.

**Sciuropterus** · 2nd November 05, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Square? Lord, how do you get all the material through?

Just one corner goes thru....

**MacConnachie** · 3rd November 05, 04:19 PM

I can assure you that amongst the non-kilted hoi polloi, so to speak, a suitable size of rectangle of tartan material of the same tartan sett as your kilt, worn through the left shoulder epaulet of a black Barathea wool Argyll jacket, affixed with suitable large pin through material bunched in one corner, with the bulk of the material hanging down over one's back to about the level of one's knees, will serve pretty well as a plaid. I recommend it for more formal occasions, but spending several hundred dollars for a twisted fringe plaid is simply excessive, in my book. I'm sure that some of the "purists" will disagree with that, but I fully expect to NEVER be around the majority of such folk at a more formal kilted affair, and they will consequently NEVER have the opportunity to formulate and/or share their opinions of my style of dress in person, regardless.

Do what pleases you. You break new ground on the "fashion scene" every time you kilt up, if your community is anything like mine. A modicum of respect for the traditions is good -- leave the finer points to those who feel inclined to or so-entitled that they MUST make use of such . . .

**MacMullen** · 4th November 05, 12:56 AM

The pattern that my wife has for my kilt includes a pattern for the fly. It's square and fringed, but I'd have to check how many yards of fabric it uses. Having said that, I'd say, do what you want, as long as it looks good. No one is likely to pull it off of your shoulder, hold it up, and say, "Hey, that's not right!"

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 4th November 05, 04:25 AM

The typical fly plaid you get from most commercial suppliers is about 40" square, but I've custom made them for the taller gent up to 54" square. I think this is a good range. 40" would be the minimum, and 54" is really as large as you can get using double-width cloth without having to seam the fabric together.

I was talking with a gentleman the other day who wondered if it would be improper to wear a flay plaid of one tartan with a kilt of another. I told him while it might not be "improper" it likely simply wouldn't look good. Something doesn't necessarily have to break the "rules of tradition" to break the rules of fashion!

In the case of a fly plaid, I think if you attempted to use a long, narrow length of tartan, akin to a lady's sash, in the same manner, you'd end up looking like you were attempting to imitate a "Scottish costume" rather than actually wearing the "real deal." That being said, I think Alan's length of 2.5 yards of 30" wide cloth might make a decent "shoulder plaid."

What I call the shoulder plaid is less formal than the fly plaid, and really has no set deminsions, though it should be fairly large. It's basically a length of heavy tartan cloth that is folded up into something managable and tossed over one shoulder. Think of the country gentleman going out to walk on his estate and taking a plaid with him to perhaps spread out for a picnic, or to wrap up in if it gets cold later on. You don't see this style of plaid very often any more, but it is traditional, and much more suited to day wear.

What I would do would be to just put a simple hem on the long ends (assuming they are not a selvedge edge) and then fringe the two short ends, and that is it.

Aye,
Matt

**Phil Wright** · 6th November 05, 02:05 PM

I was checking this out a few weeks ago and got the 54" square mentioned. For the thinner plaid I found it listed as 15" x 54", to be pleated and passed under the epaulette then pinned.

On one of the pictures from a supplier they had the square plaid pinned under the epaulette and then it looked like it had been passed round the right-hand side to tuck in to the belt or top of the kilt??? Is this right?
Phil