On a very happy Saturday in September 1998, Marcus and Danni were handfasted in a pagan/wiccan ceremony in our new backyard. They wanted to wear period clothes for the event, with Marcus asking for an Armstrong (my maiden name) tartan...
Ever try to purchase an authentic tartan? Try $250 for the material and that much again for the labor! Famous last words - "I'll do it myself!"
Just fell into the tartan at a fabric store while shopping for notions. Very fortuitously it was an exact replica of the modern Armstrong tartan! How lucky was that?
Were you also aware that there are no patterns out there for authentic kilts, only instructions? Being a visual learner, I made very little sense initially of the directions for sewing the kilt. Thank God for mothers who sew! Even so, it took us three weeks to lay it out right so we could finally sew it properly. You see the result.
I also sewed the bottom portion of Danni's gown. Thank goodness the bagpiper ladies who played for the ceremony knew how to do a bustle. They fixed it up just in time for the march down the aisle! |
