Making a day plaid (aka laird's plaid)

[Harold Cannon]

Oddly enough if you look at the instructions the ends are reversed so that it can be used as a cloak. So the rear hanging end would actually be on top. This is not as pretty but it is more functional.

[Cygnus]

I think there is a bit of confusion here between the "day plaid" and the full plaid. The day plaid is illustrated in Tobus' first two pictures and is, essentially, a tartan blanket folded and carried over the left shoulder. The full plaid, as worn by Euan MacPherson of Glentruim, is the plaid that is four yards by one and a half and worn wrapped around the body (those are the dimensions for a full plaid given by Adam Frank, by the way).

If you'd like to make a day plaid, Chas' recommendation on size seems about right; if a full plaid, 12' x 4.5' seems to be about the norm.

[SlackerDrummer]

I think there is a bit of confusion here between the "day plaid" and the full plaid.

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

[David Thorpe]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

I'm thinking that the same plaid could be worn as a braecan feile by looping the mid-point of the length over the back of a belt, folded into loose pleats and pinning with a brooch, doubled at the front of the shoulder.

[Cygnus]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

Interesting - thanks for the clarification. I can see why it would be worn bandolier style - it seems like it would be a bit of a challenge to balance such a long and unwieldy length of cloth on your shoulder without anything to hold it in place (as many seem to be doing in the photos).

[Harold Cannon]

I did check The Club of True Highlanders book again. It does say that the plaid would be 4 yards long.

[Tobus]

I appreciate all the info!

It's a little confusing trying to make sense of the description and images. Specifically the second paragraph where he describes wearing it for full protection. His description doesn't seem to match the illustration.

The text says to keep the plaid over your left shoulder and unfold it once (I assume this is width-wise, so both selvedges are still at the neck). He says to bring it OVER your right shoulder, then pulling it up to your neck by going UNDER your right arm. What does he mean?

I would assume that the process would be basically the same whether it's unfolded once or all the way so it's draping full width. But it would seem to make more sense if it's done like this:

The plaid as carried normally is folded twice in width and once in length, flopped over the left shoulder with purled ends to the front and both selvedged edges on bottom, facing the neck. To make it a cloak without taking it off, you flip the top folded half back over your left shoulder so it's full length and dragging behind you, then grab the bottom layer of selvedged edge at your neck to hold it in place, and shake out the width-wise folds*. At this point, one purled end would still be hanging down the front of the body from the left shoulder (unfolded, so it's sort of draping from the left shoulder down over the left arm and covering your left side). You would reach behind you and grab the selvedge of the fabric and pull it under your right armpit. Then pull the rest of that material around your front and over your left shoulder (overlapping the material that's already there), then around your back again and OVER your right shoulder this time, and pinning it in place at your neck.

*This is the point I'm unsure about. He mentions there being a "bulgy appearance at the left shoulder" which would suggest that it's still folded width-wise there, and sort of unfolds as it goes around your back.

Hope I didn't confuse the issue beyond all recognition. 'Twould be nice to see a video of someone going through this process and explaining it.

[creagdhubh]

I did check The Club of True Highlanders book again. It does say that the plaid would be 4 yards long.

I agree with this being the average length of a chap's simple (no pleating whatsoever - essentially a tartan blanket or throw with both ends fringed - typically hand-purled) day/blanket plaid.

Again Tobus, I would recommend making yours out of 4 yards of material.

Best of luck and be sure to share photos with the Rabble when it's all said and done!

Slainte,

[Tobus]

Oh, you know I will definitely post photos when it's done, Kyle!

Yep, around 4 yards is what I'm going to shoot for. I may adjust the length a little for my height and build so it's a good fit both when folded/draped and when wrapped like a cloak. I will probably do a mock-up using my wife's good bedsheets pinned together to find the right length. I'll use the plaid flannel ones, though, so it doesn't look too much like a toga.

I've been reading up on old threads for the fringing/purling process. Good Lord, that's going to be more work than I thought it would. Based on AKScott's excellent thread, I'm guessing it will probably take me weeks to get the whole purling process done. But it'll be worth it in the end, I'm sure.

[creagdhubh]

Same piece of cloth; different ways of wearing it.

***

Indeed, however some (day/blanket/laird - all the same principle idea) plaids are different lengths, typically depending upon the wearer's personal preference.