Making drone ribbons for a piper - advice requested

[bonnie heather]

Has anyone made drone ribbons? Or used them?

I need advice on the best method for fastening them around the pipes.

The sample I'm using as a model has velcro going across the tartan ribbon just above and below each of the pipes. But I was told another way would be to run velcro along each of the long edges of the ribbon, so the piper could adjust the spacing to his needs.

Does anyone have suggestions?

[piperdbh]

What I did was use the Velcro dots. I used wide satin binding tape, like a quilter might use, and after cutting it to the right length, laid it out on the floor. I then laid my 'pipes on top of the ribbon, with the cords centered on the ribbon. I spread the drones apart as far as the cords would go, then attached a Velcro dot (above and below the cord) to the ribbon, on either side of the drone. It takes 4 each of the two Velcro pieces for each drone. Then I took the mating piece of Velcro and pressed it into the ones I had just attached, so the sticky side of the Velcro dots was facing up. I then laid the top piece of ribbon over the bottom one, sandwiching the cord and drones in between the two ribbons. I pinned one end of the ribbons together, then squeezed the ribbons together, so the sticky side of the Velcro would adhere to the top ribbon.
Here's a picture of red and white ribbons.

I made a pair each of red, white, black and light blue ribbons, and they're interchangeable.

[OC Richard]

Years ago I aquired an old set of Hendersons which had been played in WWI and had lain unplayed in the box since 1928, when the piper had died.

Very interesing that it came with a Hunting Stewart cover, cords, and drone ribbons. The ribbons, like all traditional drone ribbons, were silk ribbon woven to the correct width. They were secured by a series of saftey pins, which were dull black.

So evidently that's what was done in the Scottish regiments in the old days.

Nowadays you'll see drone ribbons made from tartan yardage, cut to size and hemmed. This is a rather new thing and these ribbons don't look as nice as the old ones made of actual ribbon.

Anyhow I've made ribbons myself. You can buy tartan ribbon in 70mm width in a small number of tartans. I've used the velcro dots and they seem to work fine. I've also used snaps.

I friend of mine had drone ribbons made up with strips of velcro running along the ribbon in the area were the ribbon goes straight across the three drones, so that the ribbon would look straight and neat and not pucker. The part of the ribbon that hangs from the end of the outside tenor, and the part that goes up to the top of the bass drone, were left plain ribbon.

The problem with velcro is that it can catch on wool and make it pull up or ball up.

Here's the PM of the Black Watch, well showing traditional drone ribbons made from actual ribbon. Note that the sett size is one suitable for the ribbon itself, and far smaller than the sett size of the kilt and plaid.



Here's a piper of The Highlanders showing modern style ribbons, cut from tartan fabric and hemmed. Doesn't look as good IMHO. (Yes the book is about the Queen's Own Highlanders, but that's a piper of The Highlanders... go figure.)

[Neil Clark]

We used velcro in the Guards. From at least 1981. The ribboons do need adjusting and ironing from time to time to prevent them looking scruffy.

I think the biggest fault with home mades is making them too wide.

[flyrod6057]

I made my own drone ribbons from a pattern I downloaded from www.bagpipejourney.com. They're about 2 1/2 inches wide, by I forget how long...maybe 2 meters or so. I chose velcro for the fastening for ease of operation, but I guess you could use snaps or safety pins... Honestly, no one will really care how you fasten them as long as they look good going by.

Cheers!!