Versatile Plaid

**Geoff Withnell** · 30th November 09, 06:05 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I am really not (at this time) interested in a cape. My idea was something a touch more versatile and less of a bother when the weather decides to turn nicer. A nice large plaid, that could still be folded, over the shoulder and out of the way, seems ideal. And yes, if it is large enough to offer a lady a chance for a bit of snuggling comfort out of the damp and cold, that is all to the good!

Geoff Withnell

**Bigkahuna** · 30th November 09, 07:12 PM

During the 1700s there was an item of wear called a "MatchCloak" or "Matchcoat". In reality this was nothing more than a blanket worn like a Great Kilt over ones clothing. It was belted around the waist and then covered the head or shoulders as needed. It was quite a versatile garment and was very popular with Native Americans and Long hunters.See wildeweavery.com/matchcoats.

**Bugbear** · 30th November 09, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bigkahuna

During the 1700s there was an item of wear called a "MatchCloak" or "Matchcoat". In reality this was nothing more than a blanket worn like a Great Kilt over ones clothing. It was belted around the waist and then covered the head or shoulders as needed. It was quite a versatile garment and was very popular with Native Americans and Long hunters.See wildeweavery.com/matchcoats.

Actually that is a bit more what I had in mind than a tailored cloak.

Basically a wearing blanket; I have a striped one.

What I'm wondering is if a tweed plaid would be all right, rather than a tartan plaid.

**Highlander31** · 2nd December 09, 01:19 AM

The Matchcoat looks like it would be a great item for picnics & the beach while sitting around the fire.

**NewGuise** · 4th December 09, 12:30 PM

A little earlier in this thread I mentioned my Highland Granite day plaid. Last night I wore it - rather than a scarf and coat of any sort - to walk the mile from home to the University Faculty Club to attend a charity fundraiser. With it I wore my Highland Granite kilt and Wallace jacket and vest. My knees got a lttle cool on the walk, thanks to a light wind, but the rest of me, including my gloveless hands, was toasty warm wrapped in that plaid. When we arrived I hung the plaid over my shoulder - no problem, no slipping. Later I used it to reserve our seats for dinner, so I didn't keep it on all night, but I don't think it would have gotten burdensome, just warm.

After we had gotten home, feeling fairly wam and cozy despite the slightly ruddy knees, I discovered that the temperature outside was -10C/14F, with a windchill of -17C/1F.

I'm definitely a believer; all hail to the plaid.

On the other hand, I'm going to wear jeans to go out and shovel the newly-fallen and still-blowing snow, even though it has warmed up a bit...

**piperdbh** · 4th December 09, 04:48 PM

Would an Army-surplus green wool blanket work? I have one in navy blue, and it seems to be just about right for wearing, using as a picnic blanket, cuddling up with a special someone, and myriad other uses. They can be found fairly easily. If anyone wants an Inverness cape, I enthusiastically recommend VMac3205. She made me one back in the spring it's going to get "broken in" this weekend.

**JSFMACLJR** · 4th December 09, 07:35 PM

I'm really having a difficult time seeing how a plaid could be more versatile in the winter climate of the District of Columbia than some form of jacket or coat. There is a good reason why plaids are rarely worn in Scotland today: there are so many better alternatives!

Don't get me wrong, though. A day plaid is a very nice thing to have and does come in handy from time to time, but as Jock Scott and some others have pointed out in the past, they really can be a bother! They slip and slide, they get wet, they leave parts uncovered.

If you don't mind looking like you are wearing a costume, then no problem.

If you want to stay dry/warm, get a coat. You can easily remove it when you get warm.

PS: I live in Kentucky. Our weather isn't much different than DC. I've got all sorts of Barbours, and tweed overcoats, fleece jackets, down parkas, mackintoshes, shooting coats, gortex rain coats, gortex foul weather coats--all sorts of things! The back of my jeep usually has 3 or 4 jackets of various types to choose from when needed. I also have a MacLean hunting tartan blanket in there as well. It gets used at sporting events!

**Geoff Withnell** · 4th December 09, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I'm really having a difficult time seeing how a plaid could be more versatile in the winter climate of the District of Columbia than some form of jacket or coat. There is a good reason why plaids are rarely worn in Scotland today: there are so many better alternatives!

Don't get me wrong, though. A day plaid is a very nice thing to have and does come in handy from time to time, but as Jock Scott and some others have pointed out in the past, they really can be a bother! They slip and slide, they get wet, they leave parts uncovered.

If you don't mind looking like you are wearing a costume, then no problem.

If you want to stay dry/warm, get a coat. You can easily remove it when you get warm.

PS: I live in Kentucky. Our weather isn't much different than DC. I've got all sorts of Barbours, and tweed overcoats, fleece jackets, down parkas, mackintoshes, shooting coats, gortex rain coats, gortex foul weather coats--all sorts of things! The back of my jeep usually has 3 or 4 jackets of various types to choose from when needed. I also have a MacLean hunting tartan blanket in there as well. It gets used at sporting events!

Well, your post to a point illustrates what I mean. You can easily remove a coat when you get warm. But if your truck isn't at hand, you are carrying around a coat, which to my mind is considerably LESS convenient than rearranging your plaid. And it strikes me that, dead of winter aside, the plaid would handle more situations. I don't want to carry around 3 or 4 various jackets in my vehicle. One one thing, I would need 6-8 different jackets, since I'm sometimes in my car and sometimes in my wife's car. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that in a climate which can vary between cool -warm and wet-dry unexpectedly, like the mid-Atlantic region in Spring and Fall, that a good plaid would work better than any other single garment.

Winter, a nice heavy coat is pretty much a necessity, and I have two, one casual and one dressy.

Geoff Withnell

**jhockin** · 4th December 09, 11:29 PM

well, personally, I intend to try using a plaid/"plade"; already have it, in fact - just haven't used it yet. Mine is about 3? 31/2 meters of double wide, 16 oz. MacNaugton tartan, ( which matches the 4 meter box pleat I'm almost finshed making), that I got ( all 8 meters) from Fraser & Kirkbright - on sale

, so I'll have kilt AND Plaid/plade, for a wee bit over $200!

I'll see if I can post a couple pics, once I start using it.

**jhockin** · 30th December 09, 08:19 PM

Sorry it has taken so long, but I had to wait for my sister ( who took this pic) to send it to me; wearing the 4 yd. Macnaughton box-pleat I made, along with the day plaid in matching tartan ( 4 yds X 60" wide). Wearing ther plaid like this allows one to (very) comfortably drive or walk, and when it gets cool, I just unfold as much as i need, to stay warm (up to wrapping all of it around me, full width, and even over my head). I find it very practical, and not 'ren-fairish"/"costume-ish" at all.