Affordable Fabric?

[davedove]

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

Actually, if you're going for a great kilt, for that time period there weren't any family tartans. A person would wear whatever the local weaver would produce.

[Alan H]

[QUOTE=davedove]

The Great Kilt was worn ....and we can debate precisely which decade and all until we go cross-eyed, but roughly from the last quarter of the 1600's to at the Drop-dead latest...1749. See, there was this little battle on the moor at Dramossie, and shortly after that Scots couldn't wear tartan at ALL, so the kilt pretty much disappeared until the Gaelic revivial in the early 1800's./QUOTE]

Well actually, it was the late 16th century, or the 1500's, but otherwise you're right on the mark.

**grimaces**

I DIDN'T make that goof; tell me I didn't type that 1600. Oyyyy...

Thanks for the correction Davedove.

[Woodsheal]

As a reenactor with lots of experience "living" in a belted plaid ("great kilt") for a weekend, I recommend 4.5 or 5 yds to get the depth of pleating you want to make it look good (and for doubling into a nice warm blanket at night!). And these are the best commercially available mocs to replicate the "currans" or "cuarans" of the Highlanders of old:

http://www.arrowmoc.com/pt.html

As has been said (repeatedly!), clan tartans are not an issue for pre-1746. A wealthier clansman of the chief/chieftain/tacksman class could afford tartans with a bright red background - a favorite, generally derived from expensive, imported cochineal dye. Lower "class" folk would use local dyestuffs for their tartan cloth, resulting in less-bright brick-reds, browns, yellows, black, etc....

[Caradoc]

As has been said (repeatedly!), clan tartans are not an issue for pre-1746. A wealthier clansman of the chief/chieftain/tacksman class could afford tartans with a bright red background - a favorite, generally derived from expensive, imported cochineal dye. Lower "class" folk would use local dyestuffs for their tartan cloth, resulting in less-bright brick-reds, browns, yellows, black, etc....

And there's primary documentation noting that browns were popular as camouflage for the Highlander on the heath...

http://www.reconstructinghistory.com...ish/kilts.html

In James Aikman’s 1827 translation of George Buchanan’s 1581 History of Scotland: “They delight in variegated garments, especially stripes, and their favourite colours are purple and blue. Their ancestors wore plaids of many colours, and numbers still retain this custom but the majority now in their dress prefer a dark brown, imitating nearly the leaves of the heather, that when lying upon the heath in the day, they may not be discovered by the appearance of their clothes; in these wrapped rather than covered, they brave the severest storms in the open air, and sometimes lay themselves down to sleep even in the midst of snow.”

[mrpharr]

Good luck with your fabric and tartan search.

[switchblade5984]

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

well you cant have everything..

besides ..most.. of these family and county tartans have no real meaning

[macwilkin]

besides ..most.. of these family and county tartans have no real meaning

Perhaps you mean no "ancient pedigree", but for many of us with Scottish heritage, our tartans do have meaning, regardless of how old they are, be it a "clan" tartan, the tartan of the area where our ancestors came from (or to), a regimental tartan, etc.

I hope that's what you were trying to say, anyway.

Todd

[Alan H]

Perhaps you mean no "ancient pedigree", but for many of us with Scottish heritage, our tartans do have meaning, regardless of how old they are, be it a "clan" tartan, the tartan of the area where our ancestors came from (or to), a regimental tartan, etc.

I hope that's what you were trying to say, anyway.

Todd

Exactly, Todd.

My connection to the MacNaughtons is slim, but it's there, and I'm a bit proud of it. When I see another person wearing MacNaughton, I always make a point to say hello. I think the castle at Dunderave of beautiful, and would love to visit Loch Awe someday, as well as the MacNaughton holdings in Ireland. I joke around with those Campbells those HORRIBLE people that stole the Castle and the lands in 1789. **LOL** I think the tartan is great, and it represents a history that I'm...aye, only a wee bit, but still a wee bit connected to. Sure, the Clans fortunes peaked in the late 1600's, and the clan/tartan association didn't really come into being until 1830, but it still represents a connection that I find interesting and worthwhile to celebrate.

[michael steinrok]

I M Kilted!, I've looked at Fraser and Kirkbright before but I always feel a little "off" when it comes to the idea of wearing a kilt that I don't have family ties to or an organization that I don't have any family in. What is the general consensus when it comes to wearing a tartan weave that you don't have a connection to? Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

An oath no. Showing a connection is a bit closer to the truth. Check your family tree and see if you can chase up a few family scottish connections. I found another one today. Funny thing was he was right there in front of me. An uncle by marriage on me mothers side. A Russell. Galbraith tartan.

[macwilkin]

Is it really like swearing an oath of fealty?

An oath no. Showing a connection is a bit closer to the truth.

I suppose it depends on the individual. Look at the fictional character of Golly Mackenzie, the Ghillie on Monarch of the Glen. In the first seasons, Golly wore a kilt in MacDonald tartan, since he was a loyal tacksman of the Chief, Hector.

You don't have to swear an oath, but I know a number of people, several members of Xmarks, who have written the clan society or the Chief of a clan to ask "permission" to wear a particular tartan. Our local St. Andrew's Society has as its honourary patron, Lord Strathspey, Chief of the Grants, and he has given our members his "blessing" to wear the Grant tartan if they have none of their own. Necessary? Not really, but a nice nod to tradition and history.

Cheers,

Todd