The Bear Tartan

[Aldisimo]

I thought it would be easier to follow these discussions if the Bear Tartan and Tartan(s) of Pride had their own separate threads.

Aldisimo said:

I sent them (the Bear Tartan folk) a message asking about the width of the fabric. If it's double-wide, maybe two guys can save a bit by purchasing the required 8-foot length and splitting it for two kilts.

and Rex Tremende replied:

I think it is woven as double-width. I don't know if that's how they sell it, though. Because it's an asymmetrical tartan, you can't split it and join it without also hemming it, if I remember others' advice on this matter.

The split would be down the middle, lengthwise. Each piece would still be 8 yards long, but only half as wide (29"-30"). Joining would not be necessary to make two kilts.

[Aldisimo]

I got a response from Chris at Bear Tartan:

Thank you for your inquiry into the Bear Tartan.

The width of the fabric is 27 inches. However it may be purchased in a double width pattern (54 inches) if required, at an extra cost.

Unfortunately, we do not have any immediate plans to offer the tartan in polyester-rayon.

I wish (s)he'd included the amount of extra co$t for double width. Expensive or not, it's such a beautiful design that it's worth saving up for.

[Bugbear]

Hmmmmm... I see what you mean.

*** I'm going to bring these links up here to the beginning of the thread.

Link to the Bear Tartan web site, "beartartan.com."

We now have a social group here on XMTS for the folks and fans of the Bear tartan called, "The Bear Tartan." Grwrrr.

Link to the Bear tartan information at The Scottish Register of Tartans.
***

Index of XMTS Bear tartan threads.
Riverkilt's thread "the tartan of Pride"
Aldisimo's thread "The Bear Tartan"

We have a kilt maker on the forum, Meinfs, who has made a box pleated kilt in the Bear tartan; here are the threads that document his work:


Bear Tartan farbric
Bear tartan pleating options
Box-pleated kilt progress
Owner has his new Bear Tartan 4-yd box-pleat


My question threads on the box pleat in Bear:

Box Pleat in Bear Tartan?
Single Box Compared to Double Box pleat in Yardage?

[Bugbear]

Oops, I didn't catch the second post there at first. I think Rex is right that it would be easier and more cost effective to go with the kilts being made by the Bear Tartan people.
* Edit: After thinking about this for a long time, I realize that the Bear tartan is right for me, so I am dropping the plans for a Highland Granite tartan kilt, which is what the rest of this post was about. *

[Rex_Tremende]

The split would be down the middle, lengthwise. Each piece would still be 8 yards long, but only half as wide (29"-30"). Joining would not be necessary to make two kilts.

Of course, I followed you. I was just saying that I didn't know whether it was possible based on my prior communications with them. At any rate, two kilts made out of eight yards of double width, asymmetrical tartan split down the middle, each with its own selvage edge will result in the stripes in one being reversed and inverted from the other. In this case, I would much rather have the one single length of the 27" tartan.

So, are you going to save up your pennies and get one?

Regards,
Rex.

[DotDLL]

Wow, the Bear Tartan looks very nice. More info and pics are at beartartan.com, I believe.

[Bugbear]

Yes DotDLL, that link is the Bear tartan and the kilts we are talking about. Guess we forgot to bring the link over from the Pride thread. And thanks to Aldisimo for starting the new thread with the new information.

[DotDLL]

Yes DotDLL, that link is the Bear tartan and the kilts we are talking about. Guess we forgot to bring the link over from the Pride thread.

Are you trying to say that my grand idea for posting all the contents of said thread in a single message might be a bad idea?

[Bugbear]

Are you trying to say that my grand idea for posting all the contents of said thread in a single message might be a bad idea?

Well, guess we could post the link to said thread, Riverkilt's thread "The Tartan of Pride," in this thread for refference.


The story of how the Bear tartan found it's own thread can be viewed at that link. There's some nice comments about the Bear tartan too.

[Aldisimo]

So, are you going to save up your pennies and get one?

Yes, I believe I will. Of all the beautiful tartans out there, I don't think I'll see myself coming and going in this one.