X Marks the Scot - An on-line community of kilt wearers.

   X Marks Partners - (Go to the Partners Dedicated Forums )
USA Kilts website Celtic Croft website Celtic Corner website Houston Kiltmakers

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 30

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    20th January 12
    Location
    The Northern Appalachian Highlands of Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,632
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Belted Evening Plaid

    I am very much interested in learning the proper construction and wearing of a belted evening plaid. The late Scotty Thompson included some material in an Appendix to So You're Going to Wear the Kilt, but I was unable to completely understand parts of his rather sparse instructions.

    I am confident that I can do the belted end and fringe the sides. It is the tab/fringe knot end which has me confused, in both the sewing and wearing aspects.

    Any help would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Mr.Charles Anthony is offline Membership Revoked for repeated rule violations.
    Join Date
    4th June 08
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    138
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Mr.Thorpe;
    The Thompson book is- to be candid- out of date & made for a time long gone. I think it safe to say, ignore the book.
    As to the little I know of the subject, the Evening Plaide can be worn just 'as is', the fringe & frippries are NOT Required. After all the Evening Plaide is just a reminder & remmant of the top half of the old Great Kilt. Check over to the Matt Newsome website, via the Scottish Tartans Museum, I know he has everything you could ask for on the subject.
    As Ever
    CSAnthony

  3. #3
    Join Date
    17th January 09
    Location
    The Highlands of Norfolk, England
    Posts
    7,015
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Not quite understanding - do you mean a fly plaid?

    Regards

    Chas

  4. #4
    Join Date
    20th January 12
    Location
    The Northern Appalachian Highlands of Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,632
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Chas View Post
    Not quite understanding - do you mean a fly plaid?
    No, not a fly plaid. The belted evening plaid is like a drummer's plaid. The bottom is pleated and has a small belt or strap attached which is fastened at the waist and drapes down a bit (below the jacket hem) before coming up over the back of the shoulder where it is attached (somehow) at the jacket shoulder strap, and brooched forward and below that. The construction and attachment at the shoulder strap is what has me hung up. So far, I have been unable to find understandable explanation.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    17th December 07
    Location
    Staunton, Va
    Posts
    4,948
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    If you will email/pm me your address I will loan you one of my belted plaids.

    For what it's worth, the first time I saw a fly plaid it was being worn by gentlemen performing an exhibition of Scottish Country Dancing back in the mid 1960s. At the time I thought the fly plaids looked for all the world like small tartan table cloths pinned to their shoulders, an opinion I still hold almost a half century later.
    Last edited by MacMillan of Rathdown; 16th July 12 at 07:55 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    6th February 10
    Location
    U.S.
    Posts
    8,180
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown View Post
    If you will email/pm me your address I will loan you one of my belted plaids.

    For what it's worth, the first time I saw a fly plaid it was being worn by gentlemen performing an exhibition of Scottish Country Dancing back in the mid 1960s. At the time I thought the fly plaids looked for all the world like small tartan table cloths pinned to their shoulders, an opinion I still hold almost a half century later.
    ***

    I once owned a fly-plaid with straight fringe in the early 1990s and never wore it. Actually, come to think of it, I am not entirely sure why I even bought it in the first place - must have been on a whim, thinking that it looked smart or something. Funnily enough, my aunt now uses it as a table cloth.

    Cheers,

  7. #7
    M. A. C. Newsome is offline
    INACTIVE

    Contributing Tartan Historian
    Join Date
    26th January 05
    Location
    Western NC
    Posts
    5,714
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    This sounds like a slightly abbreviated version of the plaid Erskine described in The Kilt and How to Wear It (c. 1901), and which I recreated here:
    http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/0...ats-plaid.html

    In his text, Erskine describes the plaid as being "two yards by two," which I interpret to mean a two yard length of double width cloth (72" x 54") but which could just as easily be a length of material 72" x 72". I have created, and worn, this style. I think in terms of looks it is far superior to the modern fly plaid. However, it is rather cumbersome, especially when made from heavy weight tartan. Eventually I ended up selling the one I made for myself.

    I think this form of belted plaid would achieve a very similar look, but not be nearly as heavy and unweildy. Based on the photo and description OC Richard has provided, I should have enough information to create one. And I have been wondering what best to do with this 4 yard length of 29" wide New House Highland tartan I have lying around..... :-)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    6th February 10
    Location
    U.S.
    Posts
    8,180
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome View Post
    Based on the photo and description OC Richard has provided, I should have enough information to create one. And I have been wondering what best to do with this 4 yard length of 29" wide New House Highland tartan I have lying around..... :-)
    Matt,

    If you do decide to create a belted plaid, perhaps a step-by-step analysis of its progress, complete with photos, would be most beneficial to the rabble? I had to ask!

    Cheers,

  9. #9
    Join Date
    24th September 04
    Location
    Victoria, BC Canada 48° 25' 47.31"N 123° 20' 4.59" W
    Posts
    4,360
    Mentioned
    18 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Here are the photos I promised of the evening plaid from my shop.



    This first photo is of the plaid laid out on the floor showing its full length. That is a yardstick laying next to it.




    Next is the Plaid opened up a bit to show the pleating.




    Here is the part that goes around the waist. This Plaid is tied with the tabs.




    Then a detail shot of the part that goes over the shoulder.





    And here is a close-up of the small tab used to fasten the Plaid to the epaulette button. The button loop is that small fold of red satin ribbon.



    I hope this is what you were looking for.
    Steve Ashton
    Forum Owner

  10. #10
    Join Date
    20th January 12
    Location
    The Northern Appalachian Highlands of Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,632
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Thank you, Richard, That is a crystal clear explanation of the shoulder arrangement, and the pictures are very helpful as well.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» Log in

User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.0