Hey all

A couple weekends ago I went to a historical encampment great kilted which is a first for me.
Of course, I took over the living room before this for some trial runs, practice pleating etc etc and was happy that I could get my kilt pleated up nicely, so I considered myself ready for the rendezvous.

When I got there I was dressed in modern clothing, and had to pack all my gear into camp from the car. Before I had a chance to enter the camp, some gruff old fellow shouted at me "only primitive allowed!" so I pretty much had to drop everything on the spot, lay out my kilt, do a fast and dirty pleating job on the grass and then go in.

I'm surprized as to how well everything stayed together with just a belt to hold the kilt on. I figured if you were new to wearing a belted plaid, you might have to take it off and redo everything after moving around in it for so long as you would think that snags and tugs would pull everything apart. Not the case.......
I set up camp, cooked, sat in many a funky folding chair, sat on the ground and even smuggled in a modern folding shovel into camp, which obviously isn't that difficult, but the fact that the shovel stayed there in the "pockets" long enough for me to forget it was there while setting up camp was quite surprizing to me!

When night came, and it got quite a bit cooler it was very nice to be able to wrap the top half around me and stay very comfortably warm.

When it was time to sleep, I've NEVER been able to undress easier, just unbuckle your belt and VOILA there's 4 1/2 yards of toasty warm woolen goodness to be used as a blanket!

One thing I do suggest from experience is to use 2 belts with your belted plaid at events. One belt to hold your kilt on, and another for your sporran, knife, shooting bag etc etc......It's very nice to be able to remove your gear and get comfortable without having to completely disrobe before hand.

I didn't take any pictures during this event, but plan to snap some pics in full regalia (with targe and musket) in the near future.

Any other belted plaid wearers care to add their stories?

take care
Iain