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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1997-07 > 0868575707


From: "Edward Andrews" <>
Subject: Re: Highland / Lowland
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 00:01:47 +1


I think that there is confusion.
The great kilt, was simply a long length of woolen cloth wrapped
round the wearer see http://sunsite.unc.edu/gaelic/john/greatkilt/greatkilt.html
And the made up kilt of today. At some time it made the evolutionary
jump to the plaid being sewn onto a waist band. the 1720s are as good
a date as any.
What we have today is modern, like the trouser, because it is a
living garment, and evolves. Some of them now have velcro fittings.
They are lighter now, try spending a day in the rain with an old
heavy kilt getting wetter and wetter and cutting the back of your
legs.
. Pieces of checked cloth have been recovered from graves. The
confusion is about the formalisation of Tartans. This probably
happened when the Black Watch was set up, as someone had to tell the
quartermaster what to order. In the days of home spinning, while the
colours would have been restricted by what was produced locally the
design was up to the weaver, Rather in the same way that all Aran
Pullovers are individual, and could in theory traced to the knitter.
Does this bring peace? Edward Andrews
St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church Dalkeith, Midlothian Scotland
Visit our Web site http://www.btinternet.com/~stnicholas.buccleuch/index.ht

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