Vest advice

[Pyper]

Pipers frequently wear waistcoats (aka vests in the USA) as outer garments. They're more comfortable for piping than a jacket, and not as bad to wear when it's hot.

My waistcoat is wool front and back, and lined. It has square, silver buttons.

It's similar in appearnce to what these fellows are wearing, although it looks as if theirs might have a lining-material back. Hard to tell.

http://www.islayinfo.com/islay_pipe_band.html

[Mikilt]

Thank you, Anne
I have a yard of plain black wool fabric. 60". Even though I am an "XL" guy, I am hoping to get the whole vest from this single piece. If not, it will be easy to match

[Pleater]

I just realised - after a night's sleep - Argyle is the style - I was thinking colour pattern - like kilt hose.

If there are facings to cut from the fabric do lay out ALL the pattern pieces you need to make sure they will fit, rather than assume the little pieces can be cut from the leftovers once the main parts are sorted out.

Pieces such as a front facing take up a surprising amount of fabric and there is a skill in laying out the larger parts so as to fit the smaller parts around them. The instructions sheet in the pattern should show you various layouts for different widths and sizes of garment, but if it 'assumes' that you will be making several garments from the same fabric sometimes what you want to do is not shown as an option.

As you write that you are fairly new at sewing, one tip which might help is to use a warm iron with the steam turned off to smooth out the big sheets of tissue paper before you cut them, removing the creases and any wrinkles. That will ensure the pieces are not distorted. You will also get a look at the whole of the pattern and see if there are - for instance, different pieces for the facings for different sizes included in the pattern.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Schiehallion]

You got it spot on with the vest and waistcoat difference in the UK. Vest under the shirt next to skin and Waistcoat over the shirt. (Some formal waistcoats have no back at all and only may be worn with a jacket)

The vest, a sleeveless under garment is not often worn by the young as the T shirt is by far the more popular underwear and the waistcoat also is seldom seen and then only for very formal occasions or by city gents. Likewise the bowler has almost disappeared. The classic City Gent often depicted has it appears been almost consigned to history.

The vest (as underwear) is nowadays in the main seen by those coming from other mainly eastern areas of the EC,
or by buff men in gay clubs showing a perfect V torso.

I am pleased that with an Argyll, or Prince Charlie the waistcoat is still very much part of the style.

[Pleater]

You are more likely to see bowler hats - and top hats for that matter - being worn as part of the kit for morris dancing.

I have a bowler hat which I used to wear when playing for a Border morris side, but it got rather smashed when some edjit wanted to give his goyl one of my flowers. The hats are adorned with felt or ribbon flowers, beads, feathers and suchlike gewgaws.

As they are rather rare items now a days I will have to work out how to rebuild it if I want to wear it again.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: