How do I fasten a fly plaid properly?

[MacSimoin]

As some of you know, I have some material arriving shortly from The House of Edgar; I'll be taking some of that to USA Kilts so that Kelly Stewart can make a fly plaid for me, for my October wedding. This will be the first and more than likely only fly plaid I'll ever own.

I've looked around at a ton of sites for an appropriate brooch to use but finding something I like hasn't been easy. Needless to say, I finally did find one (on eBay) that I like very much; the brooch is sterling silver and handmade in Ireland. Here's a photo of it:



Since it hasn't arrived yet I don't have better pics nor do I know how large the actual pin is; the brooch itself is about 2" long. When I get the brooch in the mail (it should be here by the end of this week), I'll take some better close-up shots and post them here.

I realize the brooch isn't very large compared to some of the other common circular brooches out there (which I don't like at all), but I think this one will look better and do what it's intended to do regardless of its shape and smaller size.

Here's my question: I've read [here] that some guys fasten their brooch through their fly plaid and their kilt jacket. Is this wise? I think with something this size, my best bet will be to fasten it at the epaulet on my left shoulder (through at least one layer of the fly plaid of course). Fastening it through my Brian Boru jacket just doesn't seem like a good idea...with my luck, I'll end-up in the emergency room having it removed.

Anyone with a fly plaid care to offer your thoughts? Thanks.

[Bob C]

As some of you know, I have some material arriving shortly from The House of Edgar; I'll be taking some of that to USA Kilts so that Kelly Stewart can make a fly plaid for me, for my October wedding. This will be the first and more than likely only fly plaid I'll ever own.

I've looked around at a ton of sites for an appropriate brooch to use but finding something I like hasn't been easy. Needless to say, I finally did find one (on eBay) that I like very much; the brooch is sterling silver and handmade in Ireland.

Since it hasn't arrived yet I don't have better pics nor do I know how large the actual pin is; the brooch itself is about 2" long. When I get the brooch in the mail (it should be here by the end of this week), I'll take some better close-up shots and post them here.

I realize the brooch isn't very large compared to some of the other common circular brooches out there (which I don't like at all), but I think this one will look better and do what it's intended to do regardless of its shape and smaller size.

Here's my question: I've read [here] that some guys fasten their brooch through their fly plaid and their kilt jacket. Is this wise? I think with something this size, my best bet will be to fasten it at the epaulet on my left shoulder (through at least one layer of the fly plaid of course). Fastening it through my Brian Boru jacket just doesn't seem like a good idea...with my luck, I'll end-up in the emergency room having it removed.

Anyone with a fly plaid care to offer your thoughts? Thanks.

I can't imagine the fly plaid without a plaid brooch at the breast. Just my opinion, but I don't think that is going to look right, at all.

When I wear mine, I do, indeed, pin it through the jacket.

[Caradoc]

Just my opinion, but I don't think that is going to look right, at all.

When I wear mine, I do, indeed, pin it through the jacket.

I've actually got that same pin - but since I've never worn, nor am I likely to ever wear, a fly plaid, I can't say how it'll look.

It may look just fine.

It'll go through the fly plaid and the jacket approximately where the tip of your right index finger lands when you place "your hand over your heart" as if you were saying the American Pledge of Allegiance or performing the civilian salute to the Flag of the United States.

If the pin is too short or too small, you can use a larger safety pin for the fly plaid to the jacket, then put your decorative pin over it to be visible.

[Nick]

I love the pin, but I'm wondering if it'd get swallowed up in the fabric. One of the nice things about a round brooch is that it holds everything flat. But I think that ancient style is exquisite, so try it!

And yes, you'll have to pin it through the jacket. There's a lot of weight in a plaid, and it'll come right off your shoulder if it isn't pinned down. The pin will go through the weave of the fabric, so it shouldn't leave any holes. My brooch is a penannular I forged, with a forged pin, so it's on the thick side, but it leaves no holes in either plaid nor jacket.

Nick

[MacSimoin]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of your input.

I guess I should also ask if there's a proper method to 'folding' or gathering the fly plaid so that it drapes nicely front and back. Is there such a thing or should I just fold it 'accordion' style and let it hang like that?

[MacSimoin]

Okay, here's two more pics of the hound brooch:





I was please to find that it's a bit larger than I'd expected; I don't think it's too small to fasten my flyplaid (to my kilt jacket). What do you guys think?

EDIT: I could still use some advice on how to drape or hang a flyplaid properly. Is there a correct way, or a one way or another that looks best?

[Caradoc]

EDIT: I could still use some advice on how to drape or hang a flyplaid properly. Is there a correct way, or a one way or another that looks best?

Look: Image search on Google for "fly plaid"

There should be enough pictures for you to get a general idea.

I've described one method above already.

[MacSimoin]

...I've described one method above already.

Caradoc:

I think you misunderstood: I didn't mean how to fasten it; I've already gotten a good idea from what you and others have suggested.

What I meant was how to drape or hang the flyplaid properly. Googling flyplaid is a little help, but I'm looking for real world experience. Thanks!

[davedove]

Here's a couple of pictures from Alexis Malcolm's site:





I just realized that the plaid is a different tartan from the kilt, a terrible fashion no-no.

[binx]

Gee, the Google stuff helped me. I see now that you don't HAVE to gather the entire width of the plaid under the brooch. Or get a wider brooch. The advantage I've found in getting it all under it is that I don't have to unfasten the brooch to change plaids.

binx