The great kilt is made of three to six yards of

full width fabric (54 to 60 inches wide.) This

was the garment worn by the shepherds, the
poor -- the highlanders who had very little. It
was their blanket at night and their clothing by
day.

Love and Care of the

GREAT KILT
WEARING THE GREAT KILT
THE LARGE KILT
THE BREACAN FREILE
THE FHEILE BREACAN
THE FHEILE MORE
THE BELTED PLAID
THE PLAIDIE
THE BREACAN
THE OLDE KILT

At the time when the great kilt was worn (1500

to 1740's when tartans and kilts were banned)
tartans as we know them did not exist. Patterns
were made up of natural colors from white and
Or any of the other names
you may have heard
black sheep with some dies made from local
ingredients. The fabric was woven on a 30 inch loom and shrunk by walking the cloth to a width of
26 or 27 inches. Two widths of this were sewn together to make a kilt width.
In these far off and undocumented times the great kilt was 'put on' in some way about which we can
only guess. Each man would have his own wearing technique and no uniformity could exist. I am
sure that many kilted highlanders would not be accepted by todays standards of decency.
Uniformity and some documentation of the kilt came about when the great kilt was adopted by the
british army as the dress for regements recruited in scotland. During the years 1747 to 1782 tartan
could be worn only by officers and men of his majesties armed forces. With this uniformity was
achieved as only the british army can do. Tartans as we know them -- the government tartan (now
the black watch) and others such as, the Gordon,the MacKenzie, the Cameron, the Campbell which
are basically the black watch with modifications, were created and defined.
The british soldier lived in, slept in, and fought in his kilt. This became a sweaty, dirty, greasy,
stained garment which hung on the body to protect him from inclement weather but interfered to
some extent with his movement and mobility. He was no doubt happy to have it replaced with the
shorter kilt, the FHEILE BEAG towards the end of the 18th century.
The british soldier was issued 6 yards of single width fabric This was cut in half and sewn to make
3 yards of kilt width. Four 5 or 6 yards make a comfortable kilt. More than 6 yards gives too much
plaid to conveniently handle without appearing bulky and pulling on the rest of the clothing.

PUTTING THE KILT ON

Wearing the Great Kilt

Putting the Kilt on

1
Have a Dram of Royal Salute, then Put on the belt.

2
Have another Dram of Royal Salute then Lay down on the bed with the knees at the edge of bed.
Leave the belt.

3
Lay out the kilt fabric with hem edge along the edge of the bed.

4
Pleat the fabric so there are three sections, 1/2 hip of pleats, with 1/2 hip of apron on each side.

5
Lay down on pleated part with knees at edge of bed. Whilst thinking of how badly your going to
whip your Ghilli for being late and forcing you to dress yourself. Calm yourself with a Dram of
Royal Salute.

6
Spread the under apron (right side) and smooth over body. Some fellows get carried away here.
Remember! any more than 3 smoothing actions is considered something else.

7
Spread the over apron (left side) and smooth over body. Keep the hem straight and level.
After 3 , or was it 5 drams this is not so easy. Its the backsword for that Ghilli.
Ach man! There's no porridge on neither, GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

8
Fasten the belt at the waist. Hiccup!

9
Now the tough bit for Scotsman.Stand up. Wo there Nellie the sea she's a risen.

10
The kilt will disappar under the plaid which hangs over the kilt to about the middle of the shins.

11
As seen from the back.
And now Wearing the Kilt and an in depth description of the traditional under garments.
Ach Nessie, away with ya, prehistoric worm like Creature.

12
At a mirror observe the form of the kilt with its plaid. See if you can see that bottle of Barley Bree
Uisea Gea while your at it, because in my way of dressing in twenty minutes you'll be having
trouble seeing.

12-A-1
A first method of adjusting kilt
Take the two ends of the apron plaid in the right hand and the center of the plaid in the right,

12-A-2
A first method of adjusting kilt
bring these together over the left shoulder.

12-A-3
A first method of adjusting kilt
and pin together with a plaid brooch. And a fetching cut of a man you make, Wo Nessie, back to the
bottom of the Loch with ya riled Beastie!
note This (12) is probably the most comfortable way to wear the great kilt. It does hide the sporran
but does not pull on the clothing.

13
Take the plaid end of the underapron which is on top and tuck it under the belt as far around the left
side as it will reach. Left is the hand with out the Uisea Gea in it, Port on the other hand is another
case entirely.

14
Take the plaid end of the over apron,

15
tuck it under the belt. The Plaid that is .... at this stage things for me get a little blurry.

16
The kilt is now visible from the front, but not the back.

16-A
A second methods of adjusting kilt
Bring the center of the plaid over the head. This is good for inclement weather. Which hardly ever
occurs in Scotland.

16-B
A third methods of adjusting kilt
Drop the head loop from 16-A around neck and fasten with a brooch.

16-C-1
A fourth methods of adjusting kilt
Pick up the plaid with both hands at arms length on each side.

16-C-2
A fourth methods of adjusting kilt
Bring the two together over the left shoulder and,

16-C-3
A fourth methods of adjusting kilt
pin with a brooch at shoulder.

16-C-4
A fourth methods of adjusting kilt
This method is comfortable and shows the kilt well.

16-D
A fifth methods of adjusting kilt
Tuck the entire plaid under the belt at the back. This is bulky but is the coolest way to wear the
kilt.

16-E-1
A sixth methods of adjusting kilt
Take one or several pleats from the middle of the plaid,

16-E-2
A sixth methods of adjusting kilt
bring to the left shoulder and pin in place.

16-E-3
A sixth methods of adjusting kilt
This was the way the kilt was worn by scittish reements in the 17 & 18 th centuries. It works
well for 3, 4, or r yards of fabric. For longer fabrics there may be a low place in the back of the
plaid.

folding and storing the Kilt

17
Lay out the canvas protective cover on the bed.

18
Flip the plaid over the head and lie down on the canvas cover.

folding and storing the Kilt (Remember)

19
Pleat the kilt as if to put it on. Carefully position the pleats where you want them when you next
wear the kilt. Aberdeen is my choice :)

20
Take the upper apron and fold it over the pleated part.

21
Take the under apron and fold it over the pleated part.

22
Smooth out carefully to remove all rinkles and folds. On the Kilt.....

23
Take the plaid end of this assembly plaid end of this assembly

24
and fold it to the hem edge of kilt.

25
Fold the protective cover over the kilt and fasten ties.

26
Roll the kilt as tightly as you can from the fold to the hem edge.

27
Tie the kilt closed. Knife edge pleats will press into the fabric for the next time you wear this
fine garment.