Quote Originally Posted by madmacs View Post
I believe that sewn in pleating was a fairly modern convenience added to them...

Why not look for the instructions on youtube of how to wear a pipers plaid?
I think there is some confusion here. A piper's plaid is a shoulder plaid, just one with a large amount of fabric. It is what you see pipers in bands wearing that looks like a sash, but is not joined at the ends in a loop like a sash.

I think you are thinking of a great kilt, also sometimes referred to, quite correctly, as a plaid. The word plaid is actually gaelic for blanket, and the great kilt doubled as clothing and as a blanket for sleeping under.