Homespun "Historic" Great Kilt tartan?

[figheadair]

Merino wool - better than cotton but definitley not ideal compared with cloth woven from a cross-bred worsted yarn.

[Panache]

Dizzy,

You mentioned a leather doublet as part of you proposed outfit. While there are some really neat ones out there (I'm thinking of Ravenswood Leather and Pendragon on the Renaissance Faire circuit) I'm not sure leather is particularly historically accurate. I mention this because you are taking such care in looking for the right tartan material for your great kilt. I wear a belted plaid to our local Ren Faire each year (because it is fun even though it is in no way appropriate for the late 16th Century)

To show you the difference

Here is my outfit with a leather doublet (Ren Faire / fantasy)



Here is my friend Dale with a wool jacket (historically correct 18th Century)



(I hope Dale doesn't mind that I borrowed his photo)

Cheers

Jamie

PS: Yes, that is the same sword in both photos

[Alan H]

When I assembled a great kilt for Ren Faire I wound up watching ebay for a long time...many weeks. I finally found a reasonable-weight wool tartan done up in colors that would have actually existed in the 1700's, though I doubt that woad ( a rather shocking blue) would have been all that popular at the time.

Upshot is that after many discussions with the local Guilds, I finally came to understand that really and truly, they don't care that much about historical accuracy. They want it to be "sort of accurate" and more important "what the patrons expect". It took me a while to come 'round to that way of thinking but I accept it now. So in fact my getup looks rather like Panache's, up above, just a different color combination. It's not even vaguely accurate for the 1500's, and even less so for the 1700's.


Anyway, I would suggest using the cotton that you bought for tableware or something and just watching ebay with care for however long it takes to acquire a length of "old-looking" wool tartan. Wool with some weight to it really will do a lot better than lightweight cotton.

[Liam]

Merino wool - better than cotton but definitley not ideal compared with cloth woven from a cross-bred worsted yarn.

I have a kilt made from merino wool from TK textiles, formerly Fraser and Kirkbright. It isn't the same but it is one of my most comfortable kilts to wear. It is also lighter in weight 12 oz, so would be far more comfortable for most ren faire situations I would think.

[SandSailor'00]

Gents-

So, after assembling all the much appreciated advice, my wife and I did visit the Celtic Croft, and ended up with "Brown Watch" tartan in the form of a great kilt and Arisaid...plus a yard extra to make the wee one some kit. Not strictly "historic"...but the examples they offered did have ties to other clans, and we decided if it wasn't "our" clans...neutral was best.

I've also researched more regarding the period, and was fortunate that some of my 18th century sailing kit was pretty much perfect: I've a short, dark blue wool jacket reproduced from an early-mid 1700s example, a green and weathered waistcoat of the period, and am making "bag hose" to complete the look. I'm not a bad leather worker, and one evening and two beers produced a nice "rustic" sporran with wooden button.

I chose the black wool bonnet of the period, and keeping that as simple as possible.

Footwear...I own a well weathered pair of Fugawees, but might go for the "mogan" look, or something simpler.

Pics will follow later.