Hawick Hose top how to

A while ago on one of the forums I frequent Hamish was asking about Hawick hose and how to get the Argyll tops to sit correctly. I said I would post pictures and have finally gotten around to it, sorry for the delay. Without further ado here is my method for getting the Argyll top hose to look just so. I certainly hope this helps.


To start I pull the hose up all the way, notice the white stitching between the two colours. At this point you can put your flashes on, or wait until you are done I usually wait until I am done them put the flashes/garter ties on.

At the white stitching is where I fold over the top of the hose, showing the Argyll top.


Next I pull up the Argyll portion to the top covering the solid colour, and there you have it.

The last shot shows the double layer of hose created at the top.

Black Monday

So here is what I wore into work today, my Black Stewart Semi Traditional kilt from USA Kilts, my Stewart Clan Crest Shirt, garter ties and Ferguson Britt sporran from the Scottish Tartan Museum paired up with the Argyll top hose from Redshanks Scotland, the belt is one I made myself.

It was a busy day at work and in the heat the USA Semi Traditional kilt was perfect, of course there is AC at work but it's hot when you step outside.

Not sure what I'll be doing later on today might go see my brother, his wife and niece, or I may end up going to see a movie, last movie I went to see was the Dark Knight, I'm not sure if anything will come close to it, but there are some I'd like to see.

Shooting Jacket from Empire Canvas Works

A couple of days ago a package just came for me, I was quite pleased to see that it was the Prototype Shooting Jacket that Kevin from Empire Canvas Works had put up for sale. After close inspection I must say that this jacket is wonderfully made, and quite distinct. I am so glad that Kevin put it up for sale and I was able to pick it up, thanks again Kevin it really is something. I was however worried about the size, both my P.C. and Montrose Doublet are size 42, whereas my Argyll Jackets are size 40. This jacket is a 42 and I was not sure if it would be too big, however it does fit perfectly and I should be able to wear an Argyll under it if needed.

I'm sure you would not need a tweed jacket like this one in every part of the world, but in Canada a jacket like this one will come in handy I'm thinking of using it from fall-spring.

My tripod was replaced

A little while ago my compact tripod broke while I was on a hike, so I found a new one on ebay, won it and waited. It arrived the other day and is far more sturdy than the the compact tripod I had in the past. The good thing about having the new tripod it that I can get some pictures up now, so this is what I wore to work today.

Last night my twin brother and I went out to see The Dark Knight, no spoilers from me I'll just say it was a great movie and well worth the time spent waiting in line.

Another Delivery

Today I got another delivery this time it was the X-Marks Clan Badge for my Balmoral. This is the last day of my mini vacation, since coming home from the states I've generally putted around home doing things here that needed done. Today Im wearing my Dress MacDonald with a Black Shirt Black hose, and the Freelander sporran

Christmas in July

This morning I got the Balmoral that fits from Glengarry Hats, then I went up to my Aunt's house, once I got home there was a knock at the door, the Mailman had two packages for me number 1 was the Inverness Cape from vmac3205 number 2 the Burns Check Jacket that I got from ebay. Woo Hoo Christmas in July.

It's nice to have a Balmoral that actually fits, now it's just the waiting for the X-Marks Clan Badge.


The Burns Check Braemar is a nice piece that I just happened upon but I thought why not try for it, and sure enough I won the auction so was happy about that.


As for the Inverness Cape I've wanted one for some time but with the price of Harris Tweed I was almost resigned to wait until I one the lottery, that was until vmac3205 came along, the Cape really is wonderful as the photos will attest my only complaint is that the buttons are on the wrong side I'm used to my buttons being on the right and these are on the left, I think I'll get my Aunt to set them up properly as she was quite a seamstress in her day. I do absolutely love the Crimson lining, I think it just looks wonderful, thanks again vmac3205.

Ithica Highland Games

Yesterday was the First Annual Games in Ithica NY, I decided to take the drive down and see what it was like, the truth is I only drove down to Grand Island then went to Wompet's (Gary's) House and he drove the remaining miles. We got down to the games without much problem and were on-site by about 12:20 after a strange little parking setup and a shuttle to get there. The games were held in the Pinecreek Campgrounds so it was a strange setting for a highland games, but it was a fun day and in a games with about 1700 people there were around 7 X-Markers in the crowd.

No sooner had we paid at the gate then Barb Tewksbury (Barb made my Royal Naval Tartan kilt, and she and David her husband are just the nicest people you'd ever want to meet) was there giving me a hug in her piper gear

Diced Hose

So the other day while Alex was here I saw a pair of Diced Hose on sale at a local Highlandwear shop that I frequent. Wearing Diced Hose with a Montrose is rather a traditional look however I've had mixed reactions to them with my Montrose and the Royal Naval Association tartan. I think I'll wear them anyway as I like the look, and am somewhat traditional in my take on wearing the kilt, here is a picture I hope to get better photos soon.

Gold Bros. busted for selling Isle of Skye tartan

I saw this on Matt's Blog and asked him if I could use it with some changes, he graciously said I could, thanks Matt. I really believe that this is important when it comes to this tartan. Unfortunately businesses that take part in traditional crafts such as tartan or Harris Tweed are increasingly finding it hard to survive, and poaching designs is not a way to help.

The Scotsman newspaper has recently reported that the Gold Bros. (retailers of cheap "tartan tat" on the Royal Mile, the internet, and elsewhere) are finally being taken to task for mass-producing and selling the famous Isle of Skye tartan.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Ban-on-39Queen39s-tartan39-sales.4249779.jp


The Isle of Skye tartan is a private, copyrighted design that was the idea of Mrs. Rosemary Nicolson Samios in 1992, an Australian of Skye descent, now living in Skye. It was selected through a worldwide competition won by weaver Angus MacLeod from Lewis who produced the first commercial quantities in traditional kilt weight in 1993 at Lochcarron Weavers in North Strome. Mrs. Rosemary Samios now controls the rights to the production of this tartan through registration with the Patents Office and Lochcarron of Scotland is the main supplier of fabrics and woven accessories in this tartan, though some other suppliers have been authorized (Marton Mills, in England, produces it with permission in poly-viscose, for example).

However, businesses such as the Gold Bros., and others, have long been ignoring the copyrighted status of this tartan and profiting off of someone else's beautiful design work. As someone who went through the proper channels and paid the royalties for this beautiful tartan I say it's about time they are taken to task!

Weekend

Yesterday I delivered Alex safely to Toronto International Airport for his flight back to Scotland it was a pleasure to have him visit for the week. I know he had a good trip, it was fun to have him over and I hope to see him again soon. Here is Alex at Toronto International.

This is the outfit I wore on Friday, I did not get a picture of what I was wearing yesterday to drive Alex to the airport.

Niko R.I.P.

Well I had to help my sister with putting down our family dog on Wednesday, she was the best dog ever, bar none a beautiful husky named Niko. She was 14 years old and could no longer walk she was not eating either or doing anything really so I think it was the right thing to do. She was in a great deal of pain and was no longer the dog that we had come to know and love. I know she will be missed by the whole family, I will miss our walks which she was not able to do any longer. The photo of us together was taken one year and a day before we had to put her down.

Canada Day

On Canada Day the SOKS (Southern Ontario Kilt Society) went to the Canadian Warplanes Museum in Hamilton with a couple of very special guests, MacMoose (Darren) a Canadian now living in North Carolina and cessna152towser (Alex) from Hawick Scotland, it was a great day for it hardly a cloud in the sky. We all got together and got Alex a membership to the museum and a flight in the Boeing PT 27 Stearman, and he had a great time, by all accounts. The flight lasted a wee bit less than a half hour. The Museum is a wonderful little place with many excellent examples of Warplanes from WWII and beyond. So enough from me, on to some photos of our day.