what do I DO with it?? (pipers' plaid)

**KiltedMariner** · 23rd February 12, 07:41 PM

Greetings,

THANKS to all who responded to my "what is this" thread'

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f100/what-72256/

So, now (it appears) I have an antique pipers' plaid, MacKenzie tartan (ala Seaforth Highlanders). Why would my great-grandfather (Bruce, MacDonald) have this? What do I do with it? I wear a Bruce modern kilt.

Thanks,
Richard

**Cowher** · 23rd February 12, 07:50 PM

What are the dimensions?

**KiltedMariner** · 23rd February 12, 08:06 PM

Greetings,

The plaid is 120 inches by 27 inches (sizeable!)

Richard

**highland mafia** · 23rd February 12, 08:10 PM

is there a section that has tight pleating sewn in? Say about a 1/4 of the way along the length?

**Cowher** · 23rd February 12, 08:11 PM

Perhaps a kilt for the lass in your life?

**KiltedMariner** · 23rd February 12, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by highland mafia

is there a section that has tight pleating sewn in? Say about a 1/4 of the way along the length?

There is no pleating; it is perfectly flat.

Richard

**highland mafia** · 23rd February 12, 08:22 PM

ok well thats good news I think.. I would bother trying to wear it.. Id try and make somthing out of it.. Other wise you could wear it as a lairds plaid.

**madmacs** · 23rd February 12, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by highland mafia

is there a section that has tight pleating sewn in? Say about a 1/4 of the way along the length?

I believe that sewn in pleating was a fairly modern convenience added to them...

Why not look for the instructions on youtube of how to wear a pipers plaid?

**highland mafia** · 23rd February 12, 08:41 PM

Here ya go the power of google.

http://home2.btconnect.com/house-of-...rs-plaids.html

**O'Callaghan** · 23rd February 12, 09:50 PM

Maybe your grandad was in a pipe band? Often there is no rhyme or reason to which tartan they wear.

As for the pictorial instructions, they assume you're wearing a military doublet, which granted many pipers do, but not too many non-pipers. I suppose you could also fasten it with a brooch, but you still need something substantial to fasten it to. I'm pretty sure I have seen pipers wearing a brooch to fasten their plaids.

OTOH, many people wear a piper's plaid to the local RenFest to simulate a great kilt, which would be in period (pre-1600) while wearing a regular kilt (not pre-1600). Most of them tuck the plaid into the kilt, which IMHO is a real faux pas, considering that pipers actually started wearing them for the same reason (to give the impression of a great kilt), but never, ever, do that. There again, a lot of male RenFest 'cast' wear ladies' kilts with the buckles moved to the men's side, but are given away by their knife pleats running in the wrong direction, so they are sadly not known for great authenticity.

I have toyed with the idea of buying a piper's plaid to wear to RenFest, but would never tuck it in my kilt. Cost is an issue, though, just because they use so much fabric. And no, MacKenzie would not go well with anything I have.