Concept: Belted Plaid Relation to Leine?

[Mark E.]

* Raises an eyebrow *
You don't have a leine for reenacting, and you wear the belted plaid?

Anyway, Matt's article said thick linen was used for the leine in the Highlands, if I remember correctly.

I wear a style similar to that in the Rob Roy movie with Liam Neeson...It is of what some term "tent linen"-REALLY heavy stuff, not the hanky linen a lot of the shirt are made of from the occasional wear sites. The hem hits about 16" below my waist (I'm 6'-3"), and there is enough to tuck around and belt without a brat/kilt length over. Ended up having a pair of them made, since I couldn't find them readily available the way they should be made.

Test running, I have worn a belted plaid sans "leine", as well as "leine" sans belted plaid. No one who says they go sans shirt due to heat is telling the straight truth-there is an amount of friction under the belt that can make a day most uncomfortable. I understand that farmers of the era would tie their shirts between their legs in the fields-this is possible, but not if your hem is square cut-at least, I have tried, and it gets mighty waddy. As far as martial action, the leine without the plaid is a very good choice of clothing, as long as you belt it. Just remember to stay on your feet, or...You get the picture.(Though the shock factor could work in your favor, as long as the folk about don't know you.)



I'm on the left.

If you are looking for heavier linen material, Jas. Townsend & Son has a good bit, in natural colors, as well as William Booth Draper (www.wmboothdraper.com), including descriptions, patterns and hardware that may come in handy. If they can't match a pattern to your era, call them-they are well connected. I can spare a square of the two types of linen I used, if you are comparing materials, too.