Tartan question.

[Micric]

I wonder if anyone can answer a simple? question for me?

We have an old piece of tartan blanket, heavy and thick. The colours are different on each side, with only the white stripe (I think) in the same place.
My question;
How is such a tartan woven, so one side looks primarily brown, and the other side primarily red!?

This might be common on tartans, I don't know! If so please excuse my ignorance!!
Richard.

[figheadair]

I wonder if anyone can answer a simple? question for me?

We have an old piece of tartan blanket, heavy and thick. The colours are different on each side, with only the white stripe (I think) in the same place.
My question;
How is such a tartan woven, so one side looks primarily brown, and the other side primarily red!?

This might be common on tartans, I don't know! If so please excuse my ignorance!!
Richard.

It sounds like you've got what is referred to as a double weave blanket. It was a technique fashionable c1890-1950. I don't fully understand the weaving process but it requires a different type of loom than that used to make traditional tartan insofar as it requires more shafts than the standard four. The reason that this went out of fashion was probably because the end result one has one use, as a blanket/rug, and cheaper one sided ones i.e. one tartan were always available. A nice heirloom to keep hold of.

[Micric]

Thanks for your speedy reply Figheadair, and for the explanation re. different weaving proceedure.
I don't know how anyone came up with this way of weaving, it beats me just looking at it.
When time permits, I'll take a photo and add it here.
The blanket is getting rather old and a bit ripe now, but still lovely colour to it.

Thank you again!

R.

[Paul Henry]

Blankets like that are still available , I've got one that has an almost solid green back and a "sort of" green/white/black tartan on the front. It's a great blanket, but it is very dense, so it's always been a picnic rug rather than a sleeping blanket!