Making a day plaid (aka laird's plaid)

**creagdhubh** · 23rd August 12, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Harold Cannon

I did check The Club of True Highlanders book again. It does say that the plaid would be 4 yards long.

I agree with this being the average length of a chap's simple (no pleating whatsoever - essentially a tartan blanket or throw with both ends fringed - typically hand-purled) day/blanket plaid.

Again Tobus, I would recommend making yours out of 4 yards of material.

Best of luck and be sure to share photos with the Rabble when it's all said and done!

Slainte,

**Tobus** · 23rd August 12, 06:15 PM

Oh, you know I will definitely post photos when it's done, Kyle!

Yep, around 4 yards is what I'm going to shoot for. I may adjust the length a little for my height and build so it's a good fit both when folded/draped and when wrapped like a cloak. I will probably do a mock-up using my wife's good bedsheets pinned together to find the right length.

I'll use the plaid flannel ones, though, so it doesn't look too much like a toga.

I've been reading up on old threads for the fringing/purling process. Good Lord, that's going to be more work than I thought it would. Based on AKScott's excellent thread, I'm guessing it will probably take me weeks to get the whole purling process done. But it'll be worth it in the end, I'm sure.

**Harold Cannon** · 23rd August 12, 07:17 PM

Its not that bad! My wife and I are working on one right now. It is 3 yards long so it cant be wrapped around but will still look nice on the shoulder.

**creagdhubh** · 24th August 12, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Oh, you know I will definitely post photos when it's done, Kyle!

Cheers, Tobus! It's going to look very smart with your new Tewksbury kilt, as well as your cromach - just the traditional Highland look, in which I have obviously always been rather fond of.

I look forward to the photos!

**Tobus** · 27th August 12, 08:06 AM

Any thoughts or clarifications on my questions from post #18 above?

Also, I was experimenting on some tartan scrap pieces over the weekend to see if I could get the fringing/purling process working to my satisfaction. I've read several old threads on the subject (which are now locked due to age). It seems that the general consensus is that I should take 3 threads, twist them to the right until they start to kink, and then do the same with another adjacent 3 threads. Then put both together and twist to the left until the group starts to kink, and finish it off with a knot at the end. That's a simple enough thing to do.

But when I try it, I end up with a very loose fringe that seems like it has lost most of the twisting action. I tried it again, using more tension during the twisting process (and subsequently more twists before the kink came into play), with better results. But it still wasn't really to my satisfaction. For those of you who have done your own purled fringe, do you have to twist it really tight to get good results?

The process of teasing out the cross-threads in order to do the fringe was kind of fun. On my trial pieces, I started with 6-1/2" of exposed thread ends, and after twisting/knotting, it came out just a smidge under 6" total length, which seems about right. I experimented with the number of threads in each purled fringe, using 3+3, 3+4, and 4+4. The difference between them is not noticeable from more than about a foot away, so it gives me some options to vary the number of threads as I move across the sett of the tartan in order to control the colours and combinations of colours in each strand. If I can just perfect the twisting/knotting process, I should be able to 'go to town' on this project.

**Chas** · 27th August 12, 08:20 AM

I am sure I read somewhere that because of the time and intricacy of purling that the cost of having it done was usually equal to the cost of the fabric.

I do not know how true that is, but it would be interesting, if when done Tobus could tell us how long it took him.

Regards

Chas

**creagdhubh** · 27th August 12, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I am sure I read somewhere that because of the time and intricacy of purling that the cost of having it done was usually equal to the cost of the fabric.

For my day plaids Chas, which all have hand-purled fringing, I basically paid for the cost of the material (Lochcarron Strome) and a wee bit extra for the hand-purled fringe, but the extra cost did not equal the amount paid for the 4.5 yards of tartan.

**SlackerDrummer** · 27th August 12, 08:42 AM

Get this and then model yours after it.

**Tobus** · 27th August 12, 08:43 AM

Oh, I could easily see how the cost to hand-fringe/purl the ends would be very expensive. Especially when you have to do two ends of double-width cloth. Just removing the cross-threads to expose the ends in preparation for purling will take a couple of hours. Then the purling process itself takes a long, long time. I seem to recall AKScott's thread where he described it taking at least 20 hours or so. Whether the cost of this hand-work will equal the cost of the cloth would obviously depend on how much cloth is used. But it would still be pretty expensive for all that tedious hand labor.

Fortuntely, it's the type of thing any person should be able to do himself with a little practice. I'll be charging myself a very inexpensive rate for my labour.

**creagdhubh** · 27th August 12, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Oh, I could easily see how the cost to hand-fringe/purl the ends would be very expensive. Especially when you have to do two ends of double-width cloth. Just removing the cross-threads to expose the ends in preparation for purling will take a couple of hours. Then the purling process itself takes a long, long time. I seem to recall AKScott's thread where he described it taking at least 20 hours or so. Whether the cost of this hand-work will equal the cost of the cloth would obviously depend on how much cloth is used. But it would still be pretty expensive for all that tedious hand labor.

Fortuntely, it's the type of thing any person should be able to do himself with a little practice. I'll be charging myself a very inexpensive rate for my labour.

It cost me around $120 extra for the hand-purled fringe, Tobus. Of course, I didn't mind paying for the extra cost, as I certainly wasn't going to attempt it myself! I wanted the fringing to be done right the first time, call it "peace of mind." More power to you for attempting the fringing yourself, and I am sure the results will be wonderful. I simply am not good at - nor have the patience for - such things.