Adding kilt bows/rosettes?

**creagdhubh** · 25th March 10, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I just noticed that Gordon Walker is the only guy not wearing a black Argyll jacket... his is charcoal grey. He's always a notch above the rest.

And here he is again! Note that he's the only one not wearing a Prince Charlie, and that he has buckles and red laces on his ghillies...

Yes! He is always "a notch above the rest!" I love his style. I have never seen weathered colors worn with the black and silver of Highland evening wear, until I saw Gordon Walker doing so. I love it and plan to order a Macpherson weathered 8 yarder in strome as soon as I can do it! He is always conscious of his Highland attire, it seems, and thank goodness! I always look forward to seeing photos of him and what he will be wearing next. Thanks for the lovely photos Richard.

**BoldHighlander** · 25th March 10, 08:04 PM

I don't know if I just missed them when viewing pictures in the past or what, but I've got to say I really like the idea of tartan rosettes!

Have you thought about going this route Brian?
(though I understand too the desire to honour your former branch of service)

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Here's another view (in this case the Pipe Major of the Black Watch is the enormous man nicknamed the Big Ugg):

Gordon Walker, ex military, wears rosettes on his civilian kilt:

Great photos!
And being a connoisseur of the handlebar moustache (after a brief hiatus mine is back ) I really like the facial hair these gents are sporting!

Originally Posted by OC Richard

and in the old days:

But they're not exclusively military, as one of the men shown in The Highlanders of Scotland has bows to his kilt.

I have this vintage photo of a civilian wearing them:

**longhuntr74** · 26th March 10, 03:15 AM

Gordon Walker (who I've never heard of until just recently by reading these threads on XMTS...I've never been exposed to the world of piping) is my new role model for what "right" looks like when it comes to kilt wearing! He really does have class. I love that grey Argyll jacket, that weathered/muted tartan, and the hose selections. Those matching rosettes look awesome as well...I will be making a pair of them for wear with my BW kilt when I complete it...as well as for my US Army kilt down the road as well. I've got in mind a concept for how to make them a removable pin-on device so I can wear them for certain occassions, but don't have to wear them for all occasions.

**OC Richard** · 26th March 10, 04:54 AM

I suppose the trick for these bows or rosettes would be finding tartan ribbon that matches the kilt well, like our Gordon Walker has done.

About 25 years ago I made a pair of Black Watch style bows of Gordon ribbon that I attached to my Gordon kilt. I'll try to find a photo.

I did a lot of Scottish Country Dancing back then and I always got comments on those bows.

OK here's a blast from the past, me in 1980 or so, showing those Gordon tartan bows. They're wrong of course, because the Gordon Highlanders never wore such.

**longhuntr74** · 26th March 10, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I suppose the trick for these bows or rosettes would be finding tartan ribbon that matches the kilt well, like our Gordon Walker has done.

Richard, I would venture to say that those rosettes aren't made out of ribbon, but of the exact same material that the kilt is made of. That's what I intend to do when I make mine...perhaps stiffen it a bit with some iron-on interfacing...I'll have to experiment...it may be a bit difficult with 18oz fabric...but I think 13oz would be superb for the purpose.

I just watched that youtube video...and a bunch of others of Gordon...HOLY COW!!!

**Brian K** · 26th March 10, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Richard, I would venture to say that those rosettes aren't made out of ribbon, but of the exact same material that the kilt is made of. That's what I intend to do when I make mine...perhaps stiffen it a bit with some iron-on interfacing...I'll have to experiment...it may be a bit difficult with 18oz fabric...but I think 13oz would be superb for the purpose.

I just watched that youtube video...and a bunch of others of Gordon...HOLY COW!!!

I thought the same thing about Mr. Walker's rosettes.

I also think the idea of using 13 oz. material is good due to the fact that the sett will be smaller than in the 18 oz. and it will help the visibility of the kilt panel and rosette in such a dark sett. It might also help if you bind the "ribbon" you fashion to make them in a satin or grosgrain the same shade as one of the darker colors.

**OC Richard** · 27th March 10, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Richard, I would venture to say that those rosettes aren't made out of ribbon, but of the exact same material that the kilt is made of.

Yes perhaps as people are saying Gordon Walker's rosettes are made of a lighter weight tartan, as you can see that the sett size is smaller.

I myself prefer the military way, which is to use actual ribbon.

The Black Watch and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders use grass-green ribbon on their Black Watch/Sutherland kilts, while the Black Watch Pipe Major uses Royal Stuart ribbon on his Royal Stuart kilt.

It's actually a bit of a pet peeve of mine when things which were traditionally made of ribbon of the necessary width (silk or worsted wool) are nowadays instead made of tartan yardage cut to shape and sewn.

These things include kilt bow/rosettes, bagpipe drone ribbons, and garter flashes.

The ones made out of cut cloth never look as traditional, as nice, as the old style made of ribbon woven to the correct width.

Note that the Black Watch Pipe Major's drone ribbons and kilt bows are made of actual ribbon:

**longhuntr74** · 27th March 10, 06:13 AM

Richard...good input and I understand your viewpoint. I think you're right about the tartan ribbon...and I am looking to purchase some BW to make some rosettes.

For the masses, I would also note that, in doing a search for suppliers, it only appears to be commercially available in about 12 common tartans...so for the BW, Royal Stewart, Gordon, etc...you're good to go. If you have a kilt made of something else and wish to copy the look, you can choose a complementary solid color grosgrain ribbon or use a lightweight tartan.

**OC Richard** · 26th March 10, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Gordon Walker (who I've never heard of until just recently by reading these threads on XMTS...I've never been exposed to the world of piping) is my new role model for what "right" looks like when it comes to kilt wearing! He really does have class.

For those who don't know Gordon Walker, he's one of the world's best pipers.

Here he is!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJUBiTk6bw

He's ex-military and evidently quite proud of it, and often wears bits of his military kit, such as his regimental kilt pin, cap badge, etc.

Now about him wearing his Pipe Major's stripes on a civilian jacket there, I need to point out to US military people that the office of Pipe Major is an office, not a rank. (Army Pipe Majors can be just about any rank. Some Pipe Majors are captains and majors, others are noncommisioned officers. Whatever the man's rank, every pipe major wears the same four chevrons which denote the office.) Therefore, Pipe Major's stripes can quite properly be worn both by ex-military men and by civilians who hold the office of Pipe Major in a civilian pipe band.