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

[O'Callaghan]

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?

I think there is some confusion here. A piper's plaid is a shoulder plaid, just one with a large amount of fabric. It is what you see pipers in bands wearing that looks like a sash, but is not joined at the ends in a loop like a sash.

I think you are thinking of a great kilt, also sometimes referred to, quite correctly, as a plaid. The word plaid is actually gaelic for blanket, and the great kilt doubled as clothing and as a blanket for sleeping under.

[xman]

I would not alter the item. It is an antique pipers plaid. It should remain one. Perhaps it came to your Great-Grampy Bruce as a bequeathed item in a will from a dear friend. You wouldn't want to be responsible for cutting it up and find out later it was something very special, even more-so than I suggest perhaps.

My first thought is that you could easily use it as a laird's plaid if you like since you wear the same tartan.
At 10 feet it would make a nice draping somewhere, but be careful not to let it fade in the sunlight.

[slohairt]

I think there is some confusion here. A piper's plaid is a shoulder plaid, just one with a large amount of fabric. It is what you see pipers in bands wearing that looks like a sash, but is not joined at the ends in a loop like a sash.

I think you are thinking of a great kilt, also sometimes referred to, quite correctly, as a plaid. The word plaid is actually gaelic for blanket, and the great kilt doubled as clothing and as a blanket for sleeping under.

No, Piper's Plaids are usually made from full-width cloth and have horizontal pleating running the length of the plaid. The pleats are tacked down by two or more rows of vertical stitching.

[creagdhubh]

No, Piper's Plaids are usually made from full-width cloth and have horizontal pleating running the length of the plaid. The pleats are tacked down by two or more rows of vertical stitching.

Precisely.

[madmacs]

I think there is some confusion here. A piper's plaid is a shoulder plaid, just one with a large amount of fabric. It is what you see pipers in bands wearing that looks like a sash, but is not joined at the ends in a loop like a sash.

I think you are thinking of a great kilt, also sometimes referred to, quite correctly, as a plaid. The word plaid is actually gaelic for blanket, and the great kilt doubled as clothing and as a blanket for sleeping under.

No what I am referring to is a pipers plaid.... IE long piece of fabric (now with sewn pleats in the fabric, but originally hand folded) thrown over he left shoukder, wrapped around the chest, and the other end thrown over the shoulder again... Length 8 to 10 feet... Width usually single width...

Wheras a great kilt would be 4yds+/- of double width fabric loosely pleated (though now for convenience offered with cheater pleats) and wrapped around the waist, generally now secured with a belt, but originally, by some, thought to have had a drawstring...

I believe the original post listed the size, at about what a pipers plaid would be...