Figure 1.--.

The hornpipe costume according to the BATD hornpipe book consists of the following. The jumper should be of navy blue material (serge or twill) or white drill, shaped to the body and with set in sleeves. The jumper must have a standard neck front opening with double thickness collar attached. the bottom of the jumper should be in line with the fork and the sleeves to extend to the wrist-bone. The trousers should be of the same material and to be the same color as the jumper. The trousers should be bell-bottomed style, the circumference of the trouser-bottoms to be two to three inches wider than the cicumference of the knee. Trouser bottoms to be plain. Th vest (undershirt) is to be white drill with square neck and bound with navy binding. The cap should be regulation white or navy blue with circular crown. The collar is to be navy or blue denim with white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white suit.

BAID Hornpipe Book

The hornpipe costume according to the BATD hornpipe book consists of the following.
Jumper: The jumper should be of navy blue material (serge or twill) or white drill, shaped to the body and with set in sleeves. The jumper must have a standard neck front opening with double thickness collar attached. the bottom of the jumper should be in line with the fork and the sleeves to extend to the wrist-bone.
Collar: The collar is to be navy or blue denim with white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white suit.
Trousers: The trousers should be of the same material and to be the same color as the jumper. The trousers should be bell-bottomed style, the circumference of the trouser-bottoms to be two to three inches wider than the cicumference of the knee. Trouser bottoms to be plain.
Vest: The vest (undershirt) is to be white drill with square neck and bound with navy binding.
Cap: The cap should be regulation white or navy blue with circular crown. The collar is to be navy or blue denim with white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white suit.

Trouser Creases

A Higland dance teacher reports, "During my (many) years I have seen some incredible ways in which sailor's hornpipe pants have been folded - that is, the way the pleats are ironed or pressed in, so I thought I'd share a little bit of info which is printed in Kath Harrington's book "Start on the Right Foot" which is a bit of a guide for 'young teachers of highland dancing', first printed in 1987.
1.Turn the pants inside out and spread on a table, front upwards 2.Take one trouser leg. Fold it up to the crutch of the pants. Firmly press this crease across the leg.
3.Open up that fold. Take the hem of the trouser leg up to that first crease. Press the new crease well.
4.Then concertina the trouser leg for seven creases. 5.repeat with the other trouser leg.
6.Have both legs folded. Then fold one on top of the other for packing. Very clear, isn't it? Mind you, I haven't turned any inside out for years - too used to doing it, I guess. How many of you have seen the creases all squashed in to the first half of the leg - that is under the knee? Just for those who don't know, the 7 creases are meant to represent the seven seas! Happy ironing!!!"

Material

Another Higland dance teacher advises, "We have found that the best material to make a hornpipe outfit from is stretch gabadine. It doesn't crease and - better still - no chances of split pants when doing the pumping step as it has that little bit of 'give' in it!"

Created: December 9, 2001
Last updated: March 30, 2002