NH noob with fancy tartan weaving ambition

[Jock Scot]

Um, just out of the box, you're WAY ahead of most of us, including probably some who've never left a home village in the Orkney Islands!!!!!!!!

Steady on there! I think, you hugely mis-judge the Orkney Islands and their inhabitants and they will not thank you for your snide comment. Go there, its easy to do so, and you will certainly see ancient history at numerous sites, but you will see some of the best farmers, particularly stock farmers, in action on some of the best managed grassland that can be found anywhere in the world. You should go, its not all ruined crofts and tumble-down buildings apart from the abandoned military installations that are scattered about, far from it in fact and you will find that many Orcadians are well travelled and are very well informed.

[jsrnephdoc]

Steady on there! I think, you hugely mis-judge the Orkney Islands and their inhabitants and they will not thank you for your snide comment. Go there, its easy to do so, and you will certainly see ancient history at numerous sites, but you will see some of the best farmers, particularly stock farmers, in action on some of the best managed grassland that can be found anywhere in the world. You should go, its not all ruined crofts and tumble-down buildings apart from the abandoned military installations that are scattered about, far from it in fact and you will find that many Orcadians are well travelled and are very well informed.

I hope my apologies to you and your neighbors arrive in advance of your interpretation of my reply to NH noob..

My intent was to convey astonishment regarding the almost incredible intensity of our new member's bathing in Scottish attire history, to the extent of almost replicating in real time the efforts of people who'd been living it for centuries. The Orkneys are at the very top of my list of places to visit in Scotland, with the western extremes of Skye not far behind.

[NHhighlander]

(trying to be funny)

There is no better honor a homecoming warrior can get, than to have others doing loyal combat in his welcome.

(/ trying to be funny)

Seriously, y'all are the best!
Even on how you gallantly address issues.

BTW, I'm seriously intrigued about the Orkneys, and of contemporary craftsmen, (and the whole nine yards, as we say without meaning no harm... )

[figheadair]

Hi all,

I really want to learn!

I'm not sure what I need, because I don't know yet.
So far, I want to learn about weaving, tartan, adequate/acceptable kilt-wearing etiquette.
Very open to advice!

It is very admirable to want to learn but your task list is considerable and in some areas will require time and patience. With the greatest of respect, you appear to be attempting to go from Zero to Hero in the equivalent of 60 seconds. It's also about ability. I know nothing about you but some of the tasks you have set yourself took me years to research and master.

Long, way too long

the crazy project:
Full:
dress in proper, full kilt attire at my wife's clan meet in Scotland, in August.
Simple? Hmm.
I want it to be "real."

Just be aware that that is quite a tight timeframe, especially if the tartan you want is a non-stock one.

Quarter way project (sort of immediate, upcoming):
By April's end, have an operational loom able to weave 7-inch tartan "samples."

You'll need a warping board too. And then learn how to use both.

MUST (and that's where the fun comes in) achieve what our very esteemed colleague Peter E. MacDonald calls "total border," with herringbone and Bids-Eye.

Both of these are examples of the height of the tartan weaver's art. I would strongly suggest that you start with the basics of achieving a good 2/2 staggered twill.

I am inspired by the Maclaine Plaid "Total Border" pattern described in an article by Peter Elsea MacDonald's, https://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/A_...buie_Plaid.pdf

This is undoubtedly the most technically accomplished historical example I've examined and in my opinion is the zenith of tartan weaving.

If you are serious about learning to weave tartan then get hold of a copy of James D. Scarlett's How to Weave Fine Cloth. I think it's out of print but is well worth trying to get hold of.