Annoying Crossbelt Questions

[PiperOfThePlains]

Thanks, y'all.

OC, as I do not have a properly fitting doublet just yet, I assume the saber tashes/Inverness skirts are bout over the hips? I do realize now that my crossbelt is entirely too long. Would it be advisable to move the L&M mounts to a very cheap (and more than likely poorly made) crossbelt I could probably pick from greathighlandwear.com or a place of the like? Although I do have leather working experience, I would rather not go hacking away at something so expensive and nice, even though I will have to reset the rivets when the time comes I grow into it.

[OC Richard]

That's a call you're going to have to make. There are other options, such as picking up a high quality used crossbelt on Ebay for cheap that you can cut down to size.

Thing is, a crossbelt that's too big isn't of any use, so why not modify the one you have? Rather than have it, without hardware, sitting in a closet?

Actually I have an old crossbelt, I think, that I bought to get the hardware off of, that I could just give you. I'll have to check. But it's way too small for me!

For some reason I have old crossbelts sitting around, and a half-dozen sets of hardware.

About doublets, many modern Indian and Pakistani ones are made far too long in the waist. The doublet waist is supposed to be at the man's actual waist, not down around the hips.
If you're a smaller size you can pick up actual MOD doublets, and vintage doublets, cheaply on Ebay.

This photo shows the way a military doublet is supposed to be, with the waist high, up almost the elbows as you can see; note also the elegant shape of the skirts, something modern doublets rarely get right; note also that the collar is only piped around its base, and that the epaulettes lack piping, other things modern makers tend to get wrong



Here's a real traditional doublet showing the elegant tailoring and shapes

[PiperOfThePlains]

Wow! It's a Tartan Day miracle! I'd be absolutely more than happy to relieve you of that burden of such a terribly small crossbelt. Please P/M me if you happen to run across it.

Unfortunately, as far as doublets are concerned, eBay has turned up very little in my favour. I'm only 5'6", and a 34" chest (I'm 98Lbs.), so finding things in my very tiny size is quite a hassle...

[OC Richard]

I've seen dozens, hundreds, of doublets and kilt jackets your size on Ebay over the years, because Scottish soldiers (especially in the old days) were quite slender, and often rather short.

My size (48/50 chest and 6'4" tall) is extremely rare in the military, though there is that famous Pipe Major of The Black Watch, Jimmy Anderson aka The Big Ugg

[PiperOfThePlains]

Be sure to let me know the next time you stop one, cause I'll jump right on it!
One of my greatest inspirations in piping has always been GS McLennan -- A whopping piper and only 5'2"!

[Sean D]

Agree with what was said here , your crossbelt must never droop or be loose fitting I see many pipers wear their crossbelt over the plaid , I prefer to wear mine over my cross belt and the plaid hooked under the buckle and everything worn tight against the body so nothing moves and the waist belt over the cross belt to keep it pulled down and tight the v of the cross belt sits on my hip sort of level with the inverness flaps , there is no exact measurement. More play around and see what works and adjust as needed BEFORE I must play , usually the day before I run through everything and put the lot on and adjust and check then its normally ready to go the next day . Cheers !

[OC Richard]

Well here's on that's been on Ebay for a while, close but not right? The label says chest 33"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Scot...item2330e2b1fa

Thing is, jackets of your size are often listed as "women's" or "youth" or "boy's" due to the small size... keep in mind that the people doing the Ebay listings often don't know anything about what they're selling. You have let the photos speak for themselves.