My own tartan, or settle for an existing?

[Calico]

As any newbie should, I decided to research before jumping in with both feet. I came to kilts thinking, as many do, that you are only supposed to wear a tartan you are affiliated with (clan or district). Little did I know the vast number of unaffiliated tartans.

Still, I wanted one I could personally identify with. So I decided on the California (District) tartan. Unforunately, it doesn't really appeal to me all that much.

So I designed my own. Based on my locale, San Diego, and the beaches and sunny weather, I made a simple sett of light brown, sea blue, sky blue and sunny yellow.


This is intended for work and casual, not formal. Also, I do not want any red in the pattern at this time.

What I need expert advice on is:
1) How can I decide if it will pleat well (attractively)
2) Can anybody think of a very similar tartan (Auld Lang Syne was the nearest I could find)
3) What is your opinion of whether it is worth pursuing? Custom tartan ain't cheap!

Thanks for any help and advice.

[xman]

I like the colours very much and think it makes a handsome blend. I do think the setting is rather simple and would want to see something a little more interesting, but I must say this could be the start of something truly beautiful, perhaps even an official San Diego City Tartan. Don't give up on this one yet.

X

[davidlpope]

I think that the decision that you face is actually a bit more idealogical. It seems you have two choices, really:

1. Choosing a tartan that appeals to you based on the design and the colors, in the same way one might choose a particular suit based on it's style and the fabric it is constructed of.

or

2. Choosing a tartan because it is an identifying symbol of membership in a particular group, or a particular allegience, whether it be clan, district, state, or branch of military service. This makes particular sense if you will be participating in clan association activities, highland games, your local St. Andrew's Society, etc., where many want their tartan to have a symbolic meaning.

Think long and hard about this before you invest in a kilt, and then:

Buy what you really want
and

Buy the highest quality
because then, you'll only have to

Buy once...

Best of luck!

David

[CaseyB]

You will also need to think hard before having your own tartan woven as it can be pretty expensive! I think one of the best prices, if you're not a professional kiltmaker, is $60 / yard with a minimum order of 18 yards. That's the route that I went, my brother designed the tartan and we had it woven, but it's not practical for everyone.

[Tobus]

I like the tartan you've come up with! It's a nice simple sett, in colors that seem to go well together. I can't help with your questions on how it will pleat, but I do think it's an attractive tartan. It seems that people today are trying to go overboard with complex tartans and a multitude of colors. But there's something to be said for simplicity and style.

You will also need to think hard before having your own tartan woven as it can be pretty expensive! I think one of the best prices, if you're not a professional kiltmaker, is $60 / yard with a minimum order of 18 yards. That's the route that I went, my brother designed the tartan and we had it woven, but it's not practical for everyone.

Might want to check with DC Dalgliesh. I'm pretty sure they do custom weaves without that high of a minimum yardage. I'm having a custom weave done by them right now for an 8-yard kilt.

[CaseyB]

Might want to check with DC Dalgliesh. I'm pretty sure they do custom weaves without that high of a minimum yardage. I'm having a custom weave done by them right now for an 8-yard kilt.

Yup, that where I got my material. That's what I get for trying to do numbers before my coffee!

[Hothir Ethelnor]

DC Dalgliesh will weave single width cloth with a minimum order of 4 yards.

Their double width minimum is 16 yards.

[Chas]

Calico, if this is to be your first kilt, go with a universal tartan and something reasonably cheap.

There are good reasons for this.

You are more likely to go to places where there is the possibility of damage to your kilt, than you are to uberformal events.

You will need an everyday kilt and a special kilt. You will wear the everyday kilt because there are more everydays than there are special days.

Not every man will take to the kilt. Regardless of what we all say there are many men who give it a try, but say "Not for me".

You might not have the opportunity to wear a kilt.

The expense of have a kilt made is great, having one woven and then made could be crippling.

My advice would be this; check our advertisers and find the best deal. Start there.

Approach you local town/district/area council or local government body. Sound them out about an officially recognised tartan. Get your local St Andrew's Society or Caledonian Society involved. If there isn't one - start one. Get a groundswell going. Once there is a positive public feeling for a tartan then start designing. What would happen if you went through all the expense of designing, registering, weaving and making and then a year later the town adopts something totally different? What would you be left with?

Don't loose the dream - just get a kilt on in the mean time.

Regards

Chas

[YoungMan]

Personally, I like the tartan exactly for its simpleness. I feel like the more complex a tartan, sometimes the more limiting your options. You've come up with one that should pleat well to either sett or stripe. Although, if you're not a big fan of the yellow (you'll see a lot of it for that kind of pleating), then you might consider another color for the lone stripe. I would send a PM to Barb Tewksbury or Matt Newsome about the pleating, they got a professional's eye for such things. I believe Barb did a kilt for her daughter in a tartan similar to yours. (Anarctic something or the other?)

Edit: As for when, where, and how often you'll wear it. It's definitely something to consider. I recently commissioned a kilt even though I'm far from a daily wearer currently. I had the money on hand and decided, I know this kilt will last my whole life. Whether I only wear it to formal occassions and Scottish games, or end up becoming a fully kilty, I'll certainly get all the value out of it. It's like a good tuxedo. Wear it about 8 times, and you've already covered the cost of rentals. Just my $0.02

That being said, I'm already looking at something more casual. I've always wanted to give Scottish wrestling a try, and I definitely wouldn't do that in a handmade tank.

[Calico]

Thanks all for your input.

I would really like to just start with my "ultimate" desire... but I think Chas is right. Start inexpensive and make sure I know what I like/dislike about a kilt first, then spend the big bucks.

I did keep it simple on purpose, for a couple reasons. One, I'm a minimalist, so the simple design appeals to me. But also, there are 3 million people in San Diego, and I want a basic premise that could be specialized for different interests and yet remain basically "San Diego". People who play in the snow in east county could add a white stripe, boaters/fisherman could de-emphasis the beach and add emphasis to the ocean, perhaps adding a grey/silver stripe in the middle of the ocean to denote the fish. Sun-worhippers would make the yellow sun stripe wider. Lots of easy ways to specialize it yet leave the basic premise intact.

I'm so glad I found this support group... uh, I mean forum!

David