Quote Originally Posted by figheadair View Post
Here I have to take issue. The long edges of traditional cloth had a selvedge and therefore did not fray. If you are referring to the side edges (as opposed to the top and bottom selvedges) of a plaid then, based on all the specimens, I've examined these were finished by the rough ends being turned twice (effectively rolled) and sewn down.
There is evidence from portraits painted at the time that the belted plaid was amogst those with the means to do so edged with a seperated strip of cloth to prevent the edges fraying.

Again I'm not saying every plaid was like that and you have seen alternative ways of achieving the same effect.. But it was done in quiet a few cases.

Have a look at the Men at arms series on 18th C Highland Regiments and on the Jacobite rebellion, a series aimed at military model makers where portraits and uniform samples are examined to provide a reliable resource for military historians concerning the uniforms and clothing of that period.

It also documents the reuse of old plaids to make other garnments.