[Deil the Yin]

Hopin' the DIY folks here will have some good ideas or pointe me in the right direction on my quest for good patterns to make tartan outfits for my wife and 7-year-old daughter... This year I'm adding them to my Clan Society membership and want to be able to show off my new clan additions with coordinating outfits etc! :P

The general guidelines for these patterns include using a poly-viscose material, contemporary styling, and probably tailoring for warmer climes such as we have here in South Georgia or enough versatility to adapt etc. Versatility is actually quite ideal for us: we're pretty casual (comfourt is important), don't do too many black-tie events, but like to look nice too for special occasions (mainly church and nice evenings out for dinner etc).

If there's any other pertinent details that I should add, just holler. I'm looking forward to hearing yall's ideas! Thanks so much!

Aye,
Wesley

[sydnie7]

There's a "lasses wear" thread that might give you some ideas. While some commercial dress patterns are clearly not suitable for tartan (too many seams to match, etc.), there are many that would look great in your clan's fabric. I think it's more a matter of selecting a style that is complimentary to the specific wearer, then finding a pattern that lends itself to being made in tartan.

Have a look through here to get started.

[The Wizard of BC]

Linda Clifford's site has these photos of a really nice arasaid outfit.

The nice thing about this is that it is totally versatile. The dress can be made from light or heavy fabric as the weather dictates.
The bodice can be worn or left off.
And the Tartan overplaid can be of any Tartan or fabric you like.

On a chilly morning or drizziy day the plaid can be worn over the shoulders or even over the head.



During the warmer part of the day drop the plaid. If the ends of the plaid are sort of twisted and tucked into the belt it will form a huge pocket in the back for storing all the goodies she buys at the vendors tents.



Check out the patterns at ww.folkwear.com for some nice ideas.

[Alan H]

Check the lasses wear thread, it's in the "Advice" forum.

One thing about what the ladies wear in the USA is that there aren't a lot of rules. For us guys, OH MY GOD, YOU'RE WEARING YOUR KILT A HALF INCH TOO LONG....and so on. Some people feel that the kilt must be *just so* and to do otherwise is to grossly disrespect hundreds of years of tradition. Of course, not everybody feels that way, but some people do.

On the other hand, no such "rules" exist for the womenfolk. If they're got the legs to show off in a tartan miniskirt, then go for it. If they want to wear a tartan vest, then that's great. If they just want a sash, then that's fine. If they want a complete pants suit in tartan, nobody is going to accuse them of assaulting the Immortal Memory Of Our Ancient Forefathers.

On the other hand, as Jock Scot has pointed out.....if your lasses want to look like Scottish women, they likely won't wear anything tartan at all. Even a tartan sash is "too flash" according to our friend Jock Scot, and Heaven forbid that they wear something outlandish like a tartan hat. So dress them up in something tweedy, an old sweater and wellies and call it good.

[MacLowlife]

DTY, I expect your wife already has Ideas about what she would prefer to wear. Your daughter, on the other hand, might be amenable to something more theatrical. I would echo everyone's advice above, contradictory though it may be. I might add, though, that your daughter is likely to change sizes and something she can adjust the size of over a few years might be worthwhile. For your lovely wife, why not something on the order of a barn coat done up in canvas with tartan accents, like cuff turnbacks and pocket flaps? The body can be in a weight and color that she likes and that suits your climate. A matching hatband for her waxed cotton hat will complete the association without her looking like she was held captive by the wee tartan faeries. Or she could wear a scarf...

[Alan H]

One last piece of advice.

Do NOT buy her anything. Don't waste your time and money. This forum is chockablock full of doting men who have great ideas about what they would love to see their women in. With almost no exceptions, the women associated with those nice men wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything like what we wish they would wear.

Don't waste your time buying anything, only to have to return something. For God's sake, don't waste dozens of hours making something that she won't touch. ASK her first and then LISTEN and do not stray one single stitch from what she tells you or you will do nothing but outfit the inside of her closet.

[Lyle1]

Originally Posted by Alan H

Don't waste your time buying anything, only to have to return something. For God's sake, don't waste dozens of hours making something that she won't touch. ASK her first and then LISTEN and do not stray one single stitch from what she tells you or you will do nothing but outfit the inside of her closet.

So very true.

[Pleater]

Originally Posted by Alan H

One last piece of advice.

Don't waste your time buying anything, only to have to return something. For God's sake, don't waste dozens of hours making something that she won't touch. ASK her first and then LISTEN and do not stray one single stitch from what she tells you or you will do nothing but outfit the inside of her closet.

SIGH

why aren't there more men who understand what women want?

Anne the Pleater

[Alan H]

Originally Posted by Pleater

SIGH

why aren't there more men who understand what women want?

Anne the Pleater

Anne, my dear lady, I am no exception. This year I bought the Luminous Joan three Christmas presents. The speakers for her computer are a success.

However, both of the articles of clothing... both of them fleecey, lounge-around the house poly-fleece items (a vest and a pair of elastic-ankle sweatpants) were returned for being the wrong color. How "chocolate-brown" can be a "wrong color" is beyond me, but it is. The other item was....well....green. However, two years ago I purchased a blouse for her in a green that looked to me exactly like the green fleece vest, , and was thanked no end.

Of course, the blouse was returned for not being easy-care enough, but it was EXACTLY the same color (or seems so to my eyes) as the vest that got returned.

[Alan H]

men, understand this.

You do not see color the way your woman sees color.

I see green. Green comes in possibly three shades...light green, dark green and lime green. Then there's the shade of green that my college roommate, Chad, managed to achieve when he washed his new yellow polo shirt with his new blue college sweatshirt. This color is called "Monkey Vomit Green". Aside from those four options, green is green is green is green.

My wife does not see "green". She see's about nine thousand shades of green, of which perhaps two are acceptable to wear because they fit in her color palette. Not only that but any garment which may in fact be green, may be made in any number of fabric options. Is it machine washable? How does it drape? Is it too much like her girlfriend Tricia's new blouse, which of course I have never seen?

Forget it, guys. It's hopeless, and you don't stand a snowballs chance in Hades of getting it right. Just give her the money and go get a beer out of the fridge. When she comes back from the store, tell her how absolutely fantastic she looks, and of COURSE her butt doesn't look big in those jeans, and kiss her and then do the dishes that night.