Delurking in Massachusetts

[usonian]

Hello from the hinterlands of north-central Massachusetts. I've been lurking here intermittently for the last year or so (mostly finding my way to various individual discussions via Google), but it wasn't until I discovered the kiltmaking forum that I decided to go ahead and register.

I would say that my ancestry is predominantly English, with some Estonian, Italian, and French Hugenots thrown in for good measure, but there are definitely some Scots in there as well; one great-grandmother was a MacLaury (which, according to a couple of sources I've consulted would arguably be a sept of Clan MacPherson) whose father did come from Scotland, and I have a great-great grandmother who was a Burnett - I need to research that branch of the family a bit more; I have no idea if there's a direct Scottish connection there or not. Nevertheless, I think that the whole Clan tartan tradition, however romantic, is absolutely fascinating. Without disrespecting anyone who does have a very strong direct Scottish family connection, for those of us with more dubious connections there's something very compelling about being able to point at a name and a tartan, and claim a sense of belonging. Humans really like their tribes.

A kilt has been one of those things that I've always sort of wanted. In high school, it was mostly about the anachronism. In college, I took a weaving elective and it was there that my imagination was really captured by the whole notion of clan tartans as popularized in the 1800s. At the time I hadn't been able to determine whether the MacLaury surname would have fallen under Clan MacPherson or Clan MacLaren, so I wove a hybrid with one block of each.

After college, I got distracted for some years by figuring out how to be a grown up. (I'm still working on that, I'll let you know how it turns out.) I internalized a lot of my individualistic tendencies and never really got around to getting a kilt, reasoning that I didn't really have any occasion to wear one. (Not that one necessarily needs an occasion, as I know many here will be quick to point out!)

Events of the last couple of years have pulled me back into the kilt vortex - I've become a Freemason; the Masons have a strong Scottish heritage and (in Massachusetts anyway) dress to the nines for many occasions... this fall I attended an installation of officers at one lodge where there were probably 10 Brothers in formal highland dress, and that really re-lit the spark.

I've also acquired a loom after 15 years of waiting for the right combination of circumstances; I never forgot that weaving class, and it's been exciting to get back to it. A couple of weeks ago I finally got a long anticipated project on the loom, some MacPherson Hunting scarves:



I was a bit taken aback at how quickly the setup and weaving went for about 4 yards of fabric, and suddenly the idea of weaving at least a box-pleated kilt length is within the realm of possibility... it will be a bit more of a challenge with a finer sett and wider warp, but it's nowhere near as daunting as it long had been.

It was while mulling that over that I stumbled into the kiltmaking forum here and learned about Barbara's book, *and* discovered a kiltmaker practically in my back yard, which has lit another spark. So, my Christmas present to myself this year will be a copy of Barbara's book, some tartan fabric (I figure I'll serve myself better by using commercial fabric for my first time out; I know that handwoven tartan is a different beast.) and hopefully some private instruction. Another item to file under "things you couldn't have told me I would be doing a couple of years ago."

And there's my very long-winded introduction! Thanks to everyone for all the useful information that gets shared here... it's always amazing to discover just how deep some rabbit holes go once you notice them!

Cheers,

-Andy

[Tim Little]

Welcome from Lowell, Andy!
Definitely looking forward to hearing how your various projects progress!!

[Grizzly]

Welcome from Southampton in the Uk. I also look forward to your weaving exploits, you never know if it turns out ok you may get many requests for tartan lengths from the rabble.

[tulloch]

Welcome from the shadows of Mt. Wachusett and Mt. Monadnock. Great what you are doing. Where are you? Maybe we should go waulking some time. I used to weave, have gotten a little curious about doing it on a small, personal level. Waulking the cloth was one thing that I wondered about when the weaving is done.

[Chas]

Hello Andy,

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

Regards

Chas

[scotchmaster]

Welcome, from Boston!

Hello Andy,

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

Regards

Chas

[usonian]

Thanks everyone. Tulloch, we're practically neighbors! I'm just up the road in Winchendon. And say - I just clicked through to your profile and photo albums... did I see you at Red Apple Farm yesterday? I was the guy playing 19th century banjo.

[piperchris]

Welcome from Chris on the left coast!!! Cheers!

[tulloch]

Thanks everyone. Tulloch, we're practically neighbors! I'm just up the road in Winchendon. And say - I just clicked through to your profile and photo albums... did I see you at Red Apple Farm yesterday? I was the guy playing 19th century banjo.

Yes! That was me with my wife. I was not kilted because I didn't want to embarrass my daughter with her beau. My wife and good friend were with us. Nice banjar! I was pointing it out to my wife. It is beautiful. Nice playing too. Reminds me of my long-ago days I studied a lot from a clawhammer book. Burke?

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the Great Rabble!