Quote Originally Posted by Chas View Post
Just as an aside, does anyone actually own a Laird's Plaid? If so (or even if not), what size and type of cloth are we talking about?

I am imagining something the size and weight of a single blanket. That is to say, roughly 5' by 6'. Does that sound about right? From the pictures the Plaids all look substantially thicker than kilt material, that is why I am saying a blanket. Surely it would not have been 16 oz and felted up to be thicker.

And what would have been the cost? Woven material has never been cheap. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has seen one used 'in action' so to speak.

Regards

Chas

Well yes, I own one and I have just dug it out of the trunk that it has been resting in for the last umpteen years. No moth holes either, but the stink of moth balls is pretty powerful! Anyway I have just measured it for interest sake and it is: 54 inches wide and just under four(12ft) yards long. At a guess it is 16oz possibly 18 oz kilt type cloth of "modern" hue and I would guess that it is at least 70 years old.I would quite happily(if I was able to keep it in place, that is!) carry it wearing my "ancient" hued kilt. Yet again, we here do not bother with all this matching up carry-on, as long as the clan tartan is the same, the hue matters not one bit. If you don't believe me, find some pictures of the Atholl Highlanders, you will see at least three variations of colour of the same clan tartan.

As to cleaning wool as long as it is not oil,blood or red wine, plain dirt is dead easy to remove from wool, let it dry and gently brush it off with a softish brush. For more stubborn stains in wool, including the kilt, dump it in the nearest clean burn, or clean river, well loaded down with boulders and leave it a few days there and then dry it in the fresh air. Nature seems to sort it all out. Even most of the stubborn stains!