Penannular brooches and the like

[Hachiman]

g'day folks

There have been a couple of recent posts about great kilts, and I too have been discussing great kilts with other members of the local SCA group.

And the thought occurred to me: "How does one pin the ends of a great kilt on or over one's shoulder?", closely followed by "who can I ask to find out about this?".

Of course, I turn to those who are most knowledgable about all things kilted - other Xmarks members!!

So, those who know, please tell me: what do you prefer to use to keep the opposite ends of your great kilts attached to your shoulder? Do you use penannular brooches, or something else? Do you pierce the material, or is there another way?

I look forward to increasing my knowledge of kilt-related paraphenalia.

cheers

Hachiman

[PiobBear]

The most historically accurate way would be with a bodkin, but I use a big penannular brooch myself.

[Woodsheal]

Right, if you're an authenticity nut (like me!) don't use a pennanular brooch. They fell out of use in the early middle ages and are not "right" for the great kilt period....

A bodkin is just a big, heavy straight pin of any material: iron, brass, bone, a sliver of antler, a thorn. Raiding Granny's box of old hatpins will often yield something perfect. These make great bodkins, too:

http://www.craftycelts.com/hair/lightpins.html

[Mr. MacDougall]

Can we get a photo of how a bodkin would be employed?

[Nick]

I'm big on authenticity, but I wear a penannular with my greatkilt, because it was the first thing I forged in my home smithy.

If you use a penannular, make sure the circle is big enough around to accommodate the fabric. Likewise, a bodkin must be long enough to keep the material from slipping. Penannulars are more secure, I think. They are the medieval version of the safety pin, just to early in period.

[Woodsheal]

Can we get a photo of how a bodkin would be employed?

When wearing an upper-body garment (waistcoat, jacket), pin it through the plaid fabric and the left shoulder of said garment:



When wearing the upper part of the plaid joined across your chest, just bring the ends together and jam the bodkin through:



The pin will open up the weaving of the wool and not damage it, same as with a modern kilt pin....

[Mr. MacDougall]

just bring the ends together and jam the bodkin through

How do you keep the pin from sliding through and being lost?

[PiobBear]

It's tapered.

[Woodsheal]

It's tapered.

Exactly, or it has a head on it (see my link above). Plus, when it's stuck thru that much fabric, it doesn't do alot of sliding...!

[turpin]

When the Wild Highlanders do their Great Kilt demonstrations at the various highland games they use either penanular brooches of a solid ring and piece of antler. The take the front portion and the pleats portion over the shoulder, one over the other, pull both through the ring, and slide the antler under the fabric. you can then tug the ends as snug as you like. The wool fibers sort of hold together and won't slip out of the ring.

I'm in search of a nice forged/twisted brass ring, about 2.5" to 3" i.d.