folding the Feile mor

[Ryan Ross]

The book, "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt," has such instructions with a couple of drawings to go along.

Thanks Brother, but the instructions in So You're Going To Wear The Kilt are for putting on the belted plaid in what has become the "standard" manner... that is, by laying down.

From SYGTWTK, p.78...

It is first folded over thewearer's belt on the ground or on a bed if one is handy. The wearer lies down and belts it on...

What I'm really hoping to find are illustrations for the procedure that I described in another thread (I stuck that below), whereby you can get dressed without getting on the floor/bed/etc...

The technique is really pretty easy. This is how I do it, but after you've practiced it a few times, you'll probably end up making some modifications, to suit your specific needs.

What I do is:

1. Start by holding the cloth in front of you, by it's upper right corner (with the width of it going vertically and the yardage going off to your left, probably in some sort of pile. If you're outside and don't want your plaid on the ground, see if someone will hold the excess for you, as this part should only take about 30 seconds). Now, start gathering the yardage into your right hand, acordion style (don't worry about formal pleats-they didn't in period. If you just take a little care in aranging it, after it's all belted on, it'll look much like box pleats, anyway). Once you've gathered up all the yardage, you should have a neat bundle in your hands that's as long as your plaid is wide (about 60 inches).

2. While keeping a good hold on the top, swing it over your right sholder, so it's hanging straight down your back; at this point, ajust the length by sliding it further onto your shoulder as needed, untill the selvage is just above the back of your knee (or where ever you want the "kilt portion" to come to, once it's belted on).

3. Next, hold the bunching in place by tilting your head sideways and sandwitching it between the side of your head and your shoulder. This will free up your hands, so you can put your belt on. Put it on, around your waist and the bundle, but keep it a couple of notches looser than you would normally wear it.

4. Then, work the "aprons" around to the front, whil keeping as good a grip as you can, on the bundle at your shoulder.

5. Once the aprons are about where you want them, tighten your belt the rest of the way.

6. From there, you can let go of the bundle between your head and shoulder, as the belt should hold things in place.

7. Then, I throw the upper part of the feileadh-mor over my head (just to get it out of the way) and reach behind and re-distribute "pleat portion" of the plaid, such that the bunched material is evenly distributed across the back.

8. At that point, just make everything else look as neat as you'd like it, with a pull here, a yank here, and a tuck there.


It sounds much more complicated than it really is. It's a bit difficult to explain, so if this passage didn't describe the process well enough, let me know, and I'll try and whip up some pictures.

[turpin]

Do any of you fellows know of a web site that has illustrated directions on how to don the plaid without having to lie down on the ground?

This one shows it lying on the bed. Also several ways to wear it.

[Nick the DSM]

one thing about that: canvas cover?? is that like special container for the great kilt or can you just fold it up like a blanket?

[slohairt]

I've seen some "re-enactors" mistakenly putting on a full 9 yards of double-width cloth! (Instead of the more historically correct four or five yards.). It was a miracle they could stand (and didn't faint in the heat!)

[Ancienne Alliance]

Warm welcome from France

[fluter]

one thing about that: canvas cover?? is that like special container for the great kilt or can you just fold it up like a blanket?

As I understand it, it's something you can make to roll up the folded plaid. I've got some fabric to make one; but true to form, I haven't done it yet. My plaid is rolled up in the same way, but without the protective cover.

Say that my belted plaid is 18 inches of pleats and 18 inches of apron on each side: with the aprons folded over, it's 18 by 54 (or the width of the tartan) inches. So I make a cover that's 18 by 54. The folded kilt goes on top of it, then the whole shebang folds in half, top to bottom. It's now 18 by 27 with the cover on both sides.

Roll this up from the fold to the hem, and tie it with a couple of tabs that I've sewn into the bottom hem of the cover (or a piece of string, or...). Pop it in a drawer or suitcase, and when I unroll it, it's ready to put on. Meanwhile the pleats are "pressed".

[fluter]

T
What I'm really hoping to find are illustrations for the procedure that I described in another thread (I stuck that below), whereby you can get dressed without getting on the floor/bed/etc...

I knew I had seen this somewhere: on the Tartanweb page, select "How to Create your Great Kilt (Method 2) * Step 1 - Pleating with No Space and No Time"

Similar to your description---I think he uses the opposite hand.

[Ryan Ross]

I knew I had seen this somewhere: on the Tartanweb page, select "How to Create your Great Kilt (Method 2) * Step 1 - Pleating with No Space and No Time"

Similar to your description---I think he uses the opposite hand.

Awsome! Thanks man, that's exactly what I was looking for.

[Vafuth]

I've seen some "re-enactors" mistakenly putting on a full 9 yards of double-width cloth! (Instead of the more historically correct four or five yards.). It was a miracle they could stand (and didn't faint in the heat!)

I was guilty of that the first few times I did...I've learned since

[Jack Daw]

I've seen some "re-enactors" mistakenly putting on a full 9 yards of double-width cloth! (Instead of the more historically correct four or five yards.). It was a miracle they could stand (and didn't faint in the heat!)

I admit I was one of those. I finally took the scissors to it and made it more to my liking.