Wrapping the Braveheart kilt

[Calgacus]

Alternatively check out a matchcoat.

http://wildeweavery.com/matchcoats.htm

The wearing of a blanket in this manner has a very long and well documented history.
If we accept that the Great Kilt has its beginnings as the leine and brat,
If we accept that plaide means blanket,
and if we accept that it was supposed to be an all purpose garment,
this is probably much more realistic.

Whenever I see those directions that have you laying 18 feet of modern fabric out on the ground and laying on top of it,
All I can think of is -
What is the first thing you have to do when you wake up?

If this was supposed to be your sleeping blanket and it took that long to get dressed - Do you really want to go through all that laying out of fabric, laying down and arranging "The whole nine yards" of modern kilt fabric just to go to the latrine?

Try it for yourself. grab the blanket off your bed and wrap up in it like you see pictures of American Indians. Simple, easy, practical and historically correct.

It appears to me that matchcoats and great kilts fulfill pretty similar functions, though I don't believe that they are the same thing.

I think the evidence suggests that great kilts were about 4-6 yards (12-18 feet) long, and I suspect the reason they would have been that long would have been to provide sufficient material for warmth when used as bedding. I doubt they would have been carefully pleated when put on, more simply scrunch up, slip the belt under, lie down, buckle up, stand up. Yes, it's more of a faff than we are used to, but it's not actually that bad. I've tried it.

Note that the very earliest box pleat kilts were about 4-5 yards long. They were simply the bottom half of a great kilt with the pleats stitched in.

http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/Joined_Plaids.pdf

http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/Two...ish_County.pdf

http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/The_Dunollie_Plaid.pdf

http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/Unn...ethybridge.pdf

The few remaining complete plaids from the 18th century seem to me to suggest 4-6 yards was typical.