Quote Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Firstly you will find lace for sale on the internet - much better option than trying to make it yourself.
Phil,

I think you are missing the point. This is rather like saying, "Gee, you know you can buy kilt hose ready made at almost any Highland dress retail store. Why bother knitting your own? It's much easier to buy a pair." Or, "Why would anyone need a book called The Art of Kiltmaking? Don't you know there are stores you can buy kilts from?"

Sometimes it's about wanting to do things yourself.

Sometimes it's also about wanting something special, and not the run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf, same-as-everyone-else variety.

When I got my new Sheriffmuir doublet a few months ago, for the first time I seriously began to consider a lace jabot. My wife is an expert knitter, and I have seen some of the Victorian lace projects she has done in the past. I knew she could make a georgous lace jabot, and it would be something that not only would look fantastic but would also be very special to me.\

I would also be able to get a jabot that looked the way I wanted it to look.

Here is the end result.

(Shown here with fellow X Marker, Ryan Ross, at the Burns Supper in Franklin, NC, last month.)

Here is the jabot itself.


I made this one to tie on, rather than velcro as most commercial ones are made because, in my mind, having my wife spend hours knitting the lace for this, it would be sacriledge to put velcro on it!

I tie it more or less the same way Robert shows in his excellent photos, only I tie the knot in front under the lace jabot, and the ends of the knot get hidden under the doublet, and so remain unseen.

By the way, if anyone wants more info about the lace jabot, or is interesting in having a hand knit made for themselves, you can go here:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/jabot_knit.htm

I can't wait to see the one you come up with, piperdbh!