Show us your "Great Kilt" (belted plaid) pictures

[Arlen]

O.K. A really dodgy picture. (The bank I worked for at that point in time asked me to dress as 'William Wallace' for some inter-office publicity they were doing. I know, I know...)
This was taken in the bathroom before my debut.

[shawhighlander]

Stone Mtn. Highland Games 2009

[Woodsheal]

Jamie, that would be perfect!

I was also going to add that stout thorns, such as hawthorns, were used....

[Panache]

It is silver and I picked that up in a thrift shop for $1.00 without any idea what it was originally used for.

I had put it to use spearing cocktail onions and olives in my martinis to date.

It would seem to be a multi-purpose tool!

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[kev_1270]

A "Half belted-plaid"? Someone mentioned 54" x 2 yards. I'm trying to picture this a s a not-yet-kilt wearer. Is this something that you leave out the pleats on, and have less material bundled up?

[WClarkB]

Here's my contribution:

[Hothir Ethelnor]

The half belted plaid is the top of the belted plaid worn over a tailored kilt.

It is tucked into a belt like a normal belted plaid but with only a small amount of it reaching below the belt. The rest is arranged as the top half of the belted plaid would be.

[figheadair]

It's interesting to see members' outfits but I note that they are principally, if not exclusively, made from off the shelf tartan, be it clan or otherwise.

Whilst I appreciate that it's often simply a matter of cost, I'm surprised that no-one has opted to go for an historically accurate plaid sett.

There are a number of patterns that would fit the bill and if one wanted to go the whole hog then there are some fantastic embellishments that would make any project unique: for example; herringbone selvedges, selvedge marks and selvedge patterns.

[Mark E.]

On the note of waterproofing-I have heard this spoken of before, in trek circles-as much for kilt as other woven wool pieces. I wear wool jackets and suits/pants, and it is the tightness of the weave that makes them water-resistant, followed by a chemical treatment. How was it done back then? Waxing (as with canvas) would have made things heavy and likely stiff, while smoking (according to popular belief in living history groups, smoking tent canvas makes it more water proof) would be nearly impossible, given the main fire fuel of the era was peat...Could it possibly have been a lanolin treatment from raw sheepskin? My kilt is 8 yards long and 22 ounces...that's a lot of rubbing...Also, a principle function of wool is that it is denser and more insulate when it is wet-one big reason base layers in extreme climates are constructed of the material. Granted, kilts weren't a snug garmet, but could have had a value as far as insulation went, since it can be very cold, and still rain.

I have taken to wearing a greatcloak of waxed cotton-much more maintainable, and lighter.

Mark

[figheadair]

There are records of whale oil being used to proof cloth but I don't know how wide spread it was. I could imagine that it was a technique more common/restricted to the west coast and islands.

On the note of waterproofing-I have heard this spoken of before, in trek circles-as much for kilt as other woven wool pieces. I wear wool jackets and suits/pants, and it is the tightness of the weave that makes them water-resistant, followed by a chemical treatment. How was it done back then? Waxing (as with canvas) would have made things heavy and likely stiff, while smoking (according to popular belief in living history groups, smoking tent canvas makes it more water proof) would be nearly impossible, given the main fire fuel of the era was peat...Could it possibly have been a lanolin treatment from raw sheepskin? My kilt is 8 yards long and 22 ounces...that's a lot of rubbing...Also, a principle function of wool is that it is denser and more insulate when it is wet-one big reason base layers in extreme climates are constructed of the material. Granted, kilts weren't a snug garmet, but could have had a value as far as insulation went, since it can be very cold, and still rain.

I have taken to wearing a greatcloak of waxed cotton-much more maintainable, and lighter.

Mark