American tartans

**Benning Boy** · 20th May 14, 09:15 PM

I've been searching, with almost no success to find kilt makers or weavers offering American District tartan, of any other anyone-can-wear-it tartan representing America. I don't want a bespoke weave. I'd like to find p/v. I don't like American heritage, it's too morbid. Kinloch Anderson offers traditional kilts in American District wool, but charge an arm and a leg, plus a dangley bit for one. Anyone got any tips?

**Downunder Kilt** · 20th May 14, 09:44 PM

Marton Mills is the preferred weaver for PV fabric and they only produce, as standard, those tartans that they think there is a demand for. Rocky at USAK has the full standard range. If you can get enough folk interested in a particular tartan, MM would certainly be able to weave a bolt for you. Other than that, you play with what is available. Weavers of the wool tartan play the same game for their stock tartans.

**MacGumerait** · 20th May 14, 09:46 PM

Scotweb offers the American District tartan . You can check out their prices here :

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/Amer...can%20district

Cheers , Mike

**Benning Boy** · 20th May 14, 11:17 PM

I accept that Marton Mills is the go-to source for p/v tartan, but as near as I can tell American District is not standard. Rocky has some fine fabrics, but his American Heritage sucks. The black in it is just too much, expressing a sentiment that seems to me to be that of one who has never been there and never done that. (Hoverer I do have one of his kilts and will order another.)

Scotweb (Dalgliesh) hasn't made a good impression on me. Their posted prices aren't necessarily their true prices, there are hidden fees, and their reputation for quality control is declining.

I'd wear often a kilt in American District, or American Bicentennial, or some such. I recently noted on-line a tartan suggested as War of 1812 Bicentennial. It does a good job of representing the USA, with it's 13 alternating red and white stripes. Anyway, anything but American Heritage.

I may have to consult with Marton Mills about a special run of some kind of American tartan that doesn't look like the sound of Taps. Maybe there'd be some interest in it.

In the mean time, I'd like to hear from others.

**Tobus** · 21st May 14, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Benning Boy

I accept that Marton Mills is the go-to source for p/v tartan, but as near as I can tell American District is not standard. Rocky has some fine fabrics, but his American Heritage sucks. The black in it is just too much, expressing a sentiment that seems to me to be that of one who has never been there and never done that. (Hoverer I do have one of his kilts and will order another.)

If you don't personally favour the American Heritage tartan, that's fine. But is there some particular reason you feel the need to be insulting about it? There are others on this forum who do like it, and it's more than a tad rude to describe their tartan with words like "sucks". Further, I fail to understand your "never been there and never done that" jab. What does that mean? You do know that Rocky is a member here, he personally designed that tartan, and that he is an American, right?

**Riverkilt** · 21st May 14, 06:51 AM

You asked for a tip. My tip is to have your kiltmaker locate the tartan for you. Works for me. My kiltmaker knows the mills inside out. Finds the possible sources and lets me know. If there's more than one I just choose which. Point is, working with a reputable kiltmaker they can save you a LOT of hassle and confusion....assuming you're looking at wool and a hand sewn kilt.

**Benning Boy** · 21st May 14, 07:30 AM

Perhaps I was a bit abrupt in dismissing American Heritage. I used one word to say in one sentence what I stated better in another. American Heritage is morbid. It looks like the sound of Taps. During 28 years of service I've stood at attention too many times with tears in my eyes hearing Taps played to commemorate a death or other solemn occasion. That tune breaks my heart. A tartan designed to look like the sound of Taps mustn't have come from a happy place. It's more about death than life. Indeed in times of war, more live than die. Why aren't their spirits woven into a tartan?

On the other hand, American District, American Bicentennial or such are tartans that look like the sound of Reveille when the flag soars or To the Colors when the flag is lowered slowly and folded with honor. These are tunes about living and carrying on.

I'm surprised joyous American tartans aren't a stock item with any kilt maker, or so it seems. They seem to me to be something that many would want to wear. P/v tartan seems the most practical form of it to me. The colors would be bright, it could easily be maintained. It could be made up into 7-9 yard kilts, or into more casual kilts. Given the number who have expressed reluctance to wear Scottish tartans because the don't feel Scottish enough, or clanish enough, those of us of the rabble who are US citizens are American enough that we needn't hesitate to wear a glorious red, white and blue tartan celebrating life in America, and not death.

**BCAC** · 21st May 14, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Benning Boy

Perhaps I was a bit abrupt in dismissing American Heritage. I used one word to say in one sentence what I stated better in another. American Heritage is morbid. It looks like the sound of Taps. During 28 years of service I've stood at attention too many times with tears in my eyes hearing Taps played to commemorate a death or other solemn occasion. That tune breaks my heart. A tartan designed to look like the sound of Taps mustn't have come from a happy place. It's more about death than life. Indeed in times of war, more live than die. Why aren't their spirits woven into a tartan?

On the other hand, American District, American Bicentennial or such are tartans that look like the sound of Reveille when the flag soars or To the Colors when the flag is lowered slowly and folded with honor. These are tunes about living and carrying on.

I'm surprised joyous American tartans aren't a stock item with any kilt maker, or so it seems. They seem to me to be something that many would want to wear. P/v tartan seems the most practical form of it to me. The colors would be bright, it could easily be maintained. It could be made up into 7-9 yard kilts, or into more casual kilts. Given the number who have expressed reluctance to wear Scottish tartans because the don't feel Scottish enough, or clanish enough, those of us of the rabble who are US citizens are American enough that we needn't hesitate to wear a glorious red, white and blue tartan celebrating life in America, and not death.

The problem being, BB, is that YOU think that the American Heritage tartan is morbid. YOU think that it looks like the sound of taps. That's OK. Don't buy it or wear it. Don't diss it either, though, because maybe (just maybe) there is someone out there that just loves that tartan, it's all he wears and he thinks that it's a happy tartan that he considers in his heart the same as many clansmen consider their clan tartans. Don't diss someone elses tartan. It's not done, old chap!

**fluter** · 26th May 14, 10:14 AM

Benning Boy,

I was just poking around Dalgleish's site, and behold: American District is listed in stock in 11/15 ounce fabric, double width. Given Ron's good advice, I'd ask my chosen kiltmaker about that option.

I like the Bicentennial/US St Andrews which has a nice balance of red + blue. I rather like the resulting purple.
For now, if I want a red/white/blue look, I wear a USAK in Edzell, which leans more to the blue. Given your screen name, that may not be your choice. However the Edzell unit it commemorates had components from all the services, and the darkest blue is said to recall the dress blue uniform.