Talking of shawls I can remember the time when working class women carried their bairns in shawls. They had a special way of fixing the shawl which allowed the free use of both hands for work, without fear of the bairn falling out.
A traveller woman at the kitchen door of a manse trying to sell "delf"
[pottery ware} to the ministers wife got so exasperated at the low prices offered for her wares that she exclaimed as she turned to walk away "ye can kiss ma erse" a wee head popped out of the shawl and said "an ye can kiss mine tae" [too].