Folding/Pleating/Pinning a Fly Plaid

[JimB]

Does anyone have any advice or instructions on how to take the required amount of tartan and turn it into a fly plaid?
I have the material but doing all the bunching/folding/pleating, whatever the heck else you do with it to turn it into a fly plaid misifies me.
Anyone have directions?
Thanks!

[Nighthawk]

Both of my fly plaids are just like 3 ft by 3 ft fringed blankets. I pleat them by hand every time I put them on. I know they make stitched ones, but I like my blanket like ones better. They're more versatile I think. Pleating them is, for me, just like folding them on my shoulder. It's actually a bit of a pain some times. If you're careful, you can do it. Look at a pleated shirt sleeve and model it off of that. That's what I do, and it seems to work well.

[Ozman1944]

Usually Square or sometimes rectangular, it's worn 'diagonally'
It's just a loose 'pleating from one corner-which goes over the shoulder (can be threaded through the Epaulet) I found a black military shirt with epaulets, so I don't have to wear a hot jacket in warm weather. The Fly Plaid is then pinned with a Plaid Brooch (or a large brooch of choice) on the chest. Some plaids come with a pleat stitched in to get you started.

[ChattanCat]

heres a good site for making a pipers plaid

http://www.eyrewaves.co.uk/pipingpages/plaid.htm

[JimB]

Great helps!
Many thanks!!

[thescot]

ChattanCat's site gives the best instructions I've ever seen for fringing the end.

You should gat "So You're Going to Weat the Kilt" and read his instructions on making a belted plaid as well. Making one like that would look--IMHO--must better than just letting it hang down.

Personally, I prefer a great kilt (breachan feileadh) when I want tartan hangin down in back, but then I am something of a throw-back to early man. The breachan feileadh looks like nothing else, and for formal wear, it can't be beaten.

[ChattanCat]

Here is a pic of a pleated plaid:

[Mael Coluim]

Personally, I prefer a great kilt (breachan feileadh) when I want tartan hangin down in back, but then I am something of a throw-back to early man. The breachan feileadh looks like nothing else, and for formal wear, it can't be beaten.

Aye!

But if you only have the tailored kilt, the flying plaid is great for those special occasions.

[beloitpiper]

My piper plaid (NOT fly plaid) is heavier than my 22oz. military kilt that I wear with it. It's a beast that wraps around my chest twice then hangs down to my ankles. Fly plaid are just squares of tartan that are pinned to the shoulder at the diagonal. BIG difference.

[turpin]

My fly plaid is folded in three at the corner, then pineed through all three with the brooch. I use a safety pin to pin the assembly to my jacket - The brooch has a thick, dull-pointed pin and I don't fancy shoving it throug my jacket and making a big hole.