tartan design

[saharris]

I’ve had the notion of building a tartan off of my assumed coat of arms, viewable here:
http://www.americanheraldry.org/page...morial.HarrisS

From what I’ve gleaned from this forum, I aimed for a tartan that was bold and distinctive while also being clean and simple. This is what I’ve come up with:



I believe that the thread-count would be: P18 G54 W42 K6 W12 K6

The major stripes of green and white come from the ‘vert doubled argent’ liveries of my arms. The white stripe bears three black overchecks, which reflect the three black crosses erminée in the arms. The green stripe bears a single pink overcheck that comes from the carnation in my crest. Excluding my bobcat’s fur, those four colors make up my entire arms.

What do you think??


Question about thread-counts: As far as this design is concerned, the thread-counts: P18 G54 W42 K6 W12 K6 and K6 W12 K6 W42 G54 P18 would both yield the same design. Is one notation preferable over the other?

[Domehead]

Question about thread-counts: As far as this design is concerned, the thread-counts: P18 G54 W42 K6 W12 K6 and K6 W12 K6 W42 G54 P18 would both yield the same design. Is one notation preferable over the other?

Initially...
I like the tartan. Quite a bit, actually. The use of "pink" or "rose" (Wilson's maybe?) is a vintage nod that is underutilized.
The proportionality of white to green (whichever may be your ground) may lead some to presume a Dress or Dancer's tartan...just a thought.

As for the thread count, I think it may effect the Balanced Warp, i.e. ultimately what ends up at the selvages? And then, only half the count is required ("weaver's method" The 1819 Key Pattern Book, Peter Eslea MacDonald) : Half-sett...P9 G54 W42 K6 W12 K3 or K3 W12 K6 W42 G54 P9. How many half-setts across the width (hypothetically 6 1/2-setts @ 25" with re: reed, warp ends & epi gives 3 full-setts appx 8")...

Balanced Warp:
K3 W12 K6 W42 G54 P9 w/ pink on green at the selvage.
P9 G54 W42 K6 W12 K3 w/ black on white at the selvage...which a weaver may not want to do, too light at the bottom.

Figheadair, M.A.C. Newsome, RockyR, Slohairt, "Pleater" Anne, Barb T, Bonnie Heather all will have considerably more insight as to how the looms are set up.
Perhaps you might PM one of the experts.

[Mike_Oettle]

Nice effort, Steven. I would echo Domehead’s suggestion that the large areas of white might suggest a dress or dancer’s tartan, but it is not necessarily a drawback.
On the other hand you may like the idea of making the black stripes a bit broader, to diminish the domination of white.
In the tartan I designed for myself (likewise derived from my arms) I similarly have three stripes in one colour across another colour (yellow on red).
Regards,
Mike

[Cygnus]

I would actually make only the central black stripe broader - I feel that would echo the ermine spots in cross from your arms a bit better (as it would create a more substantial cross).

Aside from that, I actually quite like it.

[saharris]

Excellent ideas! Thank you for the feedback. How's this?

[be da veva]

Nice, I really like version 2.

[saharris]

In the tartan I designed for myself (likewise derived from my arms) I similarly have three stripes in one colour across another colour (yellow on red).

Hi Mike, Did you ever have your heraldic tartan woven, or was it more of an academic exercise?

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, Steve –
one thing at a time. With my arms registered, I can now look at having the tartan woven. But it is still a matter of finding the money for it. Pensioners are not so well off. But I can dream, can’t I?
Regards,
Mike

[saharris]

Hi, Steve –
one thing at a time. With my arms registered, I can now look at having the tartan woven. But it is still a matter of finding the money for it. Pensioners are not so well off. But I can dream, can’t I?
Regards,
Mike

I completely understand I've got four kids under the age of 6 running around the house (well, the baby is just crawling). My time and money are not my own anymore...

[xman]

Notes to fledgling tartan designers:

1. 240-340 threads including all pivots will yield a tartan about 6-8.5", ideal for kilt pleating
2. Pivot points (and all pleats ideally) should have a clearly identifiable block of at least 32 threads or about 3/4"
3. Central stripes larger than 12 threads will overly dominate the fell.

Break these 'rules' as you need to. I'm sure there are other considerations.