Isle of Skye: Marton Mills PV vs. Lochcarron 16 ounce Wool

**Riverkilt** · 14th January 10, 10:09 PM

Kennethrmc and his lovely wife Marsha visited Page today and we were able to meet for dinner out at Antelope Point Marina on Lake Powell...in the cold and the dark - but lots of stars.

Ken wore his USA Kilts Isle of Skye semi-trad, which shows the Marton Mills PV set for this tartan. I wore my hand sewn Isle of Skye of 16 ounce wool from Lochcarron Mills.

While the pic shows I am most fat and satisfied after a good meal, it also is a good comparison of the setts of the two tartans.

PV on the left, Wool on the right.

And, here's a great pic of the lovely couple. Marsha is wearing her classic tartan wool skirt in the Burns tartan.

**McMurdo** · 14th January 10, 10:24 PM

Good photos Ron, it's good to see members of XMarks showing up in Page. I've seen the PV against my wool, I got to say I prefer the wool.

**Kiltman** · 14th January 10, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Good photos Ron, it's good to see members of XMarks showing up in Page. I've seen the PV against my wool, I got to say I prefer the wool.

I have to agree on both accounts. Have not been in Page for a very long time and wool is always my favorite.

**Riverkilt** · 14th January 10, 10:44 PM

Greedy guy that I am I want one of EACH! Was my first in person look at the Marton Mills PV. Think I'm gonna get one in USA Kilts Casual for hot weather wear.

Gotta go check Rocky's lead time.

**kennethrmc** · 14th January 10, 11:04 PM

'Twas an excellent night indeed! Excellent company, fine food and (for Marsha and I) a chance to see a new part of canyon country. We are grateful for this forum that provides a way to meet great folks with common interest.

**NewEnglander** · 15th January 10, 05:07 AM

Wow, that's quite a difference in the sett between the two mills. I really had no idea they could be so different. Other than requesting a swatch before ordering, is there a way to tell how large a sett will be from a particular mill?

**RockyR** · 15th January 10, 06:29 AM

It's more a function of the weight of cloth... the lessor the weight, the thinner the individual strands of wool (or PV), the smaller the sett.

MM also does a 16 oz wool version of the IOS tartan. While I've never compared a MM & Loch IOS kilt side by side, I can say that the sett sizes are much closer to equal.

Ron, to answer the question, 7 to 8 weeks.

**Jock Scot** · 15th January 10, 06:42 AM

Gosh! I had no idea that there was such a difference.

**Riverkilt** · 15th January 10, 07:01 AM

Just to clarify for me, the smaller sett on the Marton Mills fabric doesn't look "bad" or "inferior" its just a different size. As you can see from the pic it looks fine when made up into a kilt.

Thought is was a rare chance to have both side by side for comparison.

**Paul** · 18th January 10, 01:31 AM

I quite like the small IoS sett!

If you compare my Campbell Ancient HoE 16oz wool with Campbell Ancient Lochcarron 13oz wool it's like a completely different tartan due to the sett being half the size and the colours being massively different!