what do I DO with it?? (pipers' plaid)

[O'Callaghan]

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.

[xman]

I would not alter the item. It is an antique pipers plaid. It should remain one. Perhaps it came to your Great-Grampy Bruce as a bequeathed item in a will from a dear friend. You wouldn't want to be responsible for cutting it up and find out later it was something very special, even more-so than I suggest perhaps.

My first thought is that you could easily use it as a laird's plaid if you like since you wear the same tartan.
At 10 feet it would make a nice draping somewhere, but be careful not to let it fade in the sunlight.

[slohairt]

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.

No, Piper's Plaids are usually made from full-width cloth and have horizontal pleating running the length of the plaid. The pleats are tacked down by two or more rows of vertical stitching.

[MacGumerait]

I agree with xman , it is an antique piper's plaid and I would not alter it . If possible try to find out it's history .

I think that back in the day of your great grandfather a piper's plaid wasn't pleated in the area across the chest . They would often fold the the material in half or in thirds ( depending on the width of the material ) , then wrap it around the body , then brooch it at the shoulder and let the balance drape and spread down the back .

Also , back in the day of your great grandfather it wasn't only pipers that wore what we call a piper's plaid . Sometimes they were worn by soldiers as part of a ceremonial uniform , a military officer or a prominent clan member .

As mentioned earlier by xman , it may have been worn by someone that was a dear friend to your great grandfather and it may have an interesting history .

Just food for thought .

Regards , Mike

[ForresterModern]

So, now (it appears) I have an antique pipers' plaid, MacKenzie tartan (ala Seaforth Highlanders). Why would my great-grandfather (Bruce, MacDonald) have this? What do I do with it? I wear a Bruce modern kilt.

Thanks,
Richard

So you wear a Bruce Modern and inherited your great grandfather's MacKenzie tartan antique piper's plaid that measures about 10 feet by 27inches, purled fringe on the ends. Unless you plan on getting a MacKenzie kilt to match you probably do not want to mix tartans by wearing the plaid with your Bruce kilt, and some might consider carrying it as a "lairds" plaid while Bruce kilted equally inappropriate. Besides, being only 27inches wide it really would not make a very good laird's plaid being too narrow. Unless you want to wear it with saxon clothing to some events (not recommended) or have a wife/female friend who might wear it as a sash variant, or want to use it as a household decoration like a long table runner or thrown over the back of a couch or chair, you yourself probably have no practical use for it.

So your decision falls down to how much this piece means to you from a personal remembrance of your greatgrandfather, and a lot of that may be based on your knowledge of and relationship to him as a part of your family (only three of four of mine were alive when I was born and only one of those do I even remember ever meeting, and then only as a very young child in a nursing care situation, for example). If you desire you can keep it as is as a remembrance of him and a family heirloom. If you do not feel so attached to it in that way, perhaps another relative in the family might want it if they do feel more attached to him. If, other than knowing it was once your greatgrandfather's property, you really can look it as just a piece of tartan, then re-tasking it as something more useful comes to mind, although at 10 foot length it is a bit short for even a limited yardage kilt, unless that might be for a child or small waisted woman. Or you could consider selling it to someone who might make better use of it and to whom its MacKenzie tartan has a greater meaning.

The decision is really all yours to make.

[madmacs]

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.

No what I am referring to is a pipers plaid.... IE long piece of fabric (now with sewn pleats in the fabric, but originally hand folded) thrown over he left shoukder, wrapped around the chest, and the other end thrown over the shoulder again... Length 8 to 10 feet... Width usually single width...

Wheras a great kilt would be 4yds+/- of double width fabric loosely pleated (though now for convenience offered with cheater pleats) and wrapped around the waist, generally now secured with a belt, but originally, by some, thought to have had a drawstring...

I believe the original post listed the size, at about what a pipers plaid would be...

[creagdhubh]

Since there is no pleating, which is wonderful news, then yes, wear it as a day/blanket plaid for certain day occassions such as, highland games, clan gatherings, etc. I wear day plaids with my Highland day attire at such events, but not all the time, as they are a wee bit cumbersome.

What you can do is fold the plaid in half from its shorter sides (the top and bottom part where the fringing is located) then double it over again from the non-fringed sides, and you are ready to place it over your left shoulder with the fringed ends positioned on the front part of your body. The day plaid looks rather smart with the addition of a check jacket in tweed and a cromach.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

No, Piper's Plaids are usually made from full-width cloth and have horizontal pleating running the length of the plaid. The pleats are tacked down by two or more rows of vertical stitching.

Precisely.

[Bob C]

Table runner? Window treatment?

[English Bloke]

I wouldn't wear it at the same time as your Bruce kilt. I am rude enough to wear any tartan when I'm not in my own Bruce Kilt, but I have also learned it is unwise to wear two different tartans at the same time, unless you really enjoy the fact that those in the know will be muttering about you in hushed tones behind your back, everywhere you go.

If it were mine, I'd fold it up and put it in the back of a dark drawer for my great grandson to find.