Making a day plaid (aka laird's plaid)

[creagdhubh]

On the left:

This is the late Euan Macpherson of Glentruim and I know for a fact that he wore plaids in the Macpherson 'hunting' tartan that were originally used as tartan throws and blankets, usually placed all around the interior, by his lovely wife Sandra, of Glentruim House in Inverness-shire near Laggan. His plaids were huge; typically 6-7 yards, and he had to have Sandra assist him when putting the plaid on in his characteristic style. Glentruim was quite the Highland gentleman, a staunch supporter of the "old ways" of doing things, and an active Chieftain of the Clan Macpherson (Macphersons of Invereshie). I miss him dearly.

Cheers,

[Harold Cannon]

Oddly enough if you look at the instructions the ends are reversed so that it can be used as a cloak. So the rear hanging end would actually be on top. This is not as pretty but it is more functional.

[Cygnus]

I think there is a bit of confusion here between the "day plaid" and the full plaid. The day plaid is illustrated in Tobus' first two pictures and is, essentially, a tartan blanket folded and carried over the left shoulder. The full plaid, as worn by Euan MacPherson of Glentruim, is the plaid that is four yards by one and a half and worn wrapped around the body (those are the dimensions for a full plaid given by Adam Frank, by the way).

If you'd like to make a day plaid, Chas' recommendation on size seems about right; if a full plaid, 12' x 4.5' seems to be about the norm.

[SlackerDrummer]

I think there is a bit of confusion here between the "day plaid" and the full plaid.

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

[David Thorpe]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

I'm thinking that the same plaid could be worn as a braecan feile by looping the mid-point of the length over the back of a belt, folded into loose pleats and pinning with a brooch, doubled at the front of the shoulder.

[Cygnus]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

Interesting - thanks for the clarification. I can see why it would be worn bandolier style - it seems like it would be a bit of a challenge to balance such a long and unwieldy length of cloth on your shoulder without anything to hold it in place (as many seem to be doing in the photos).

[Harold Cannon]

I did check The Club of True Highlanders book again. It does say that the plaid would be 4 yards long.

[Tobus]

I appreciate all the info!

It's a little confusing trying to make sense of the description and images. Specifically the second paragraph where he describes wearing it for full protection. His description doesn't seem to match the illustration.

The text says to keep the plaid over your left shoulder and unfold it once (I assume this is width-wise, so both selvedges are still at the neck). He says to bring it OVER your right shoulder, then pulling it up to your neck by going UNDER your right arm. What does he mean?

I would assume that the process would be basically the same whether it's unfolded once or all the way so it's draping full width. But it would seem to make more sense if it's done like this:

The plaid as carried normally is folded twice in width and once in length, flopped over the left shoulder with purled ends to the front and both selvedged edges on bottom, facing the neck. To make it a cloak without taking it off, you flip the top folded half back over your left shoulder so it's full length and dragging behind you, then grab the bottom layer of selvedged edge at your neck to hold it in place, and shake out the width-wise folds*. At this point, one purled end would still be hanging down the front of the body from the left shoulder (unfolded, so it's sort of draping from the left shoulder down over the left arm and covering your left side). You would reach behind you and grab the selvedge of the fabric and pull it under your right armpit. Then pull the rest of that material around your front and over your left shoulder (overlapping the material that's already there), then around your back again and OVER your right shoulder this time, and pinning it in place at your neck.

*This is the point I'm unsure about. He mentions there being a "bulgy appearance at the left shoulder" which would suggest that it's still folded width-wise there, and sort of unfolds as it goes around your back.

Hope I didn't confuse the issue beyond all recognition. 'Twould be nice to see a video of someone going through this process and explaining it.

[creagdhubh]

I think there is a bit of confusion here between the "day plaid" and the full plaid. The day plaid is illustrated in Tobus' first two pictures and is, essentially, a tartan blanket folded and carried over the left shoulder. The full plaid, as worn by Euan MacPherson of Glentruim, is the plaid that is four yards by one and a half and worn wrapped around the body (those are the dimensions for a full plaid given by Adam Frank, by the way).

If you'd like to make a day plaid, Chas' recommendation on size seems about right; if a full plaid, 12' x 4.5' seems to be about the norm.

Glentruim's plaid (as shown above) was actually just a simple tartan throw/blanket and not specifically designed with the intent to be used solely as a plaid.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

***

Indeed, however some (day/blanket/laird - all the same principle idea) plaids are different lengths, typically depending upon the wearer's personal preference.