To Fly Plaid or not

[gwynng]

Last year on a trip to Scotland I purchased some really fine 16 oz. Holyrood tartan. It was a total bargain price because it was 3.75 yds double wide and the salesman said, "it's not quite enough to make a proper 8 yard kilt. So I can give you a good price" Well, even my most generous kilt uses only 7.5 yards, so I wasn't worried at all and took it without hesitation.

The question is: should I reserve 40 inches or so, to make into a fly plaid before I start the kilt? It will make the kilt closer to a 5 yard kilt.

Is the coloration of Holyrood to earthy (read: "casual") for the rare times I need formal wear and might want a fly plaid? I kind of think of the earthier tartans as being less formal for some reason.

AND, is 16 oz wool going to be too heavy for a fly plaid?

So all this boils down to having a more modest kilt (yardage wise) with a fly plaid VS a generous, proper tank...with lots of pleats to sew!

Any thoughts?

[JohntheBiker]

Go for the pleats. I wore the fly plaid when I got married and never since. My wife has worn it as a shawl on occasion.

[MacRobert's Reply]

IMHO use it for a decent kilt and forget the plaid. If sufficient is left, go for a tartatan waistcoat.

[Jock Scot]

Go for the best kilt you can get and regard the fly plaid as mere fluff.

Why?

The kilt will be worn and enjoyed on countless occasions for many a year, whereas the plaid may, at best, be worn for very few events and likely not enjoyed, well, very much.

[Sir Didymous]

As much as I like plaids, I must say this:
If you consider yourself more traditional/conservative in terms of kilt wear, then just go for the higher yardage kilt. I only have one true fly plaid, and it has seen more use than what it would if I were more conservative, but still not enough to skimp on the kilt. I mean if you are even more fond of plaids than myself and intend to wear it every time you dress up more than a shirt and tie, then by all means go for it. Otherwise, I reluctantly agree with the others. Either way, it's a great tartan and I hope you get lots of use out of it.

[mookien]

As much as I love fly plaids (they make you look very Scottish, ... at least to Americans) I recommend using all of your material for pleats (and tartan flashes from the scraps). It will make a noticeably nicer kilt. IMHO the Holyrood tartan is fine for formal wear, as are "earthier" tartans. All of my fly plaids, save one, are made from heavyweight wool, and they "work" just fine.

[bwat]

Re fly plaids:

they make you look very Scottish, ... at least to Americans

...trying hard to avoid the obvious antimetabole...

[Laird_M]

Although I do have a fly, I've found it a pain in the behind as unless worn with a jacket with epaulettes, its constanlty slipping down off the shoulder.
Go for a full kilt which you'll enjoy more and use a lot more.

[mookien]

Re fly plaids:


...trying hard to avoid the obvious antimetabole...

Never! I know what I like and I like what I know.

[davidlpope]

Use all the fabric in the kilt.