Greatkilt Question

[Riverkilt]

This may seem kinda basic...but it just sorta hit me...

Can I just buy enough yards of a tartan material...lay it on the bed...pleat it up...flop down onto it....belt it up...do something with the extra...and have a greatkilt?

No sewing?

Ron

[Yaish]

Yup. Pretty much not seen outside of Renfairs though. It doesnt come across as a 'neat' garment.

[Mike1]

Ron, that's pretty much it. Other than the fact that you will probably want to lay your plaid out on a floor to pleat it.

When I attended the commemoration at Balquhidder, back in late December, there were probably 30-35 of us that were kilted. Of that number, only 2-3 of us were not in belted plaids.

I've seen some fellows that can pleat up a plaid and look sharp after an entire day. I've seen others that look as if they are wearing a blanket held up by a belt within 30 minutes.

Some people will 'cheat' a bit, by stitching in the pleats, to eliminate that blanket look. One thing is certain, once a belted plaid starts to lose it's look, you are not going to simply step into a washroom and give it a quick repair job. It's a matter of laying out the plaid and starting all over again.

My significant other was wearing an arisaid, the day of the commemoration. I think we finally got it pleated to her liking on the third try.

[Piper]

As a Piper and a Reenactor/rendezvouser I wear both the modern and period style kilts. The fileadh mohr looks a bit intimidating to put on, but once you get used to it, it's fairly easy, and doesn't take that long. It's a procedure much more easily demonstrated than explained, but this website, http://www.theweebsite.com/greatkilt/index.html is about the best set of instructions I've found on the internet.
While the activity involved in a battle reenactment can put the kilt in disarray, I don't think normal activity messes things up too much. If the belt comes undone though, all is lost.
As I recently mentioned on another forum, one of the better definitions of the Great Kilt I've heard is that it's a way to keep warm by wrapping 5 or 6 yards of wool around you, without looking like a bag of rags from the front.

[Nick]

I've only pleated on a bed once, and I much prefer the floor/ground. If you are meticulous enough about your pleats (for me, count in three yellow stripes, then up two for every pleat), and careful about what you do with the extra, a great kilt is a very sharp garment. But it's one of those that requires a lot of practice to do it right.

[furrycelt]

I gotta just chime in on this thread, as I have worn a great kilt (breacan freile) more often than any other type (though that will change now that I have a UK and cannot do much historical re-enacting anymore).

It does take some practice putting it on. It is easier to start on the floor or a large bed. After a time, I have gotten to where I can put it on standing up. It does make things easier to sew down the pleats in the back. I am very anal so I never have a problem with it looking like a pile of rags as I wear it. The keystone is the belt; if it goes, you will be naked in seconds (which has its advantages;) ).

I love how you can change the configuration of it all. I can drop the upper section and tuck it in the back of the belt for hot weather. I can wrap it up like a coat in cold weather. I can arrange it into a sash and thus it becomes a "backpack" where I can carry stuff.

All my great kilts are made of wool that is 60" wide. For my build this is perfect. So the fabric can go from the mid knee (or top) and give me enough up top to cover my head in brisk weather.

-ian

[Nick]

Can you give any pointers on putting it on standing up? I've heard of it being done, but I have no idea how to do it.

[mudd]

Sounds like an incredible garment.

Is there anything “wrong” with having the pleats sewn in and maybe some belts added?

[furrycelt]

Can you give any pointers on putting it on standing up? I've heard of it being done, but I have no idea how to do it.

For this I can't imagine doing it without the pleats sewn in.

Uhmm... how do I say this without the benefit of pictures or video... ok...

Alright, picture the great kilt as a giant square of cloth that is just pinched in the middle from the sewn pleats. With the cloth behind you, take an upper corner of the cloth in each hand. Hold your arms straight and mostly skyward as if you are making the "Y" in the "YMCA" dance from the 1970's. Shift your arms and butt so that you can get the pleated section to land roughly where it should go. From there, bend over and hunch your back so that you can drop your arms and the cloth won't slide any. Feel free to make the "M" from the "YMCA" dance, but stop there. If you make the "C", you will create a mess, and have to start over. Let the top of the cloth go over your head, it will help to hold it in place. While in that hunchback-looking-for-clovers position, grab your belt and run it behind you. While still bent over, wrap the two sides to make the front approns. If you are doing it right, you should look like a curved tartan burrito. Buckle, standup, and tweak. That's how I do it.

Another option is to put the belt on first but very loose. Spread your legs wide so the belt stays up. Pull the cloth thru the loose belt same way you pull a bath towel thru the towel bar in your bathroom. Tweak and adjust and pull and shift until everything is where you want it, then tighten the belt. You may find all the "extra" cloth that is above the belt will get in your way with this method, so you can take all that and throw it over your head and shoulders (which puts you basically back to the first method).

YMMV, and it takes practice to get this type of zen. Once you get it, it will come as easy as putting on a shirt. Ok, not quite that easy, but at least we now have a clear idea why the celts ran into battle naked.

-ian

[furrycelt]

Is there anything “wrong” with having the pleats sewn in and maybe some belts added?

Nah, not at all. It will make you life easier all around. And for those who are super anal about historical accuracy, there is no evidence to suggest that it was *not* done.

"...some belts added?" Did you mean "belt-loops"? That might make things easier to put on, but belt loops could hinder the ability to shift the fabric under the belt. That ability makes it such a flexible and versatile item to wear.

-ian