Some questions about Sinclair and Caithness tartans and where to buy them

[Johnny Selkie]

Hi, I've been thinking about buying a sinclair hunting ancient lochcarron 16 oz kilt from McAllans in Wick, Caithness. They seemed like a quality shop with reasonable prices, are there anybody here that has any experience with this particular kiltmaker?

I've also nocticed that they have a Caithness district tartan which I've found nowhere else. Is this a restricted tartan or am I wrong?

Also If I would be so unfortunate not to make it to Katanes(Caithness), which kiltmaker(s) in the Edinburgh area would you then recommend and why?

Cheers

Johnny Selkie

[Dale Seago]

Interesting. . .The Caithness tartan is in fact listed as "restricted" at Scotweb:

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/Caithness/22504

It's a really beautiful tartan. by the way.

[Johnny Selkie]

I remember reading somewhere that the Caithness tartan is only available from McAllans in Wick and Thurso.

[artificer]

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=465

You could always contact the designer. It may be that she just doesn't want it being woven and sold without her permission.

ith:

[chrisupyonder]

Hi, I've been thinking about buying a sinclair hunting ancient lochcarron 16 oz kilt from McAllans in Wick, Caithness. They seemed like a quality shop with reasonable prices, are there anybody here that has any experience with this particular kiltmaker?

I've also nocticed that they have a Caithness district tartan which I've found nowhere else. Is this a restricted tartan or am I wrong?

Also If I would be so unfortunate not to make it to Katanes(Caithness), which kiltmaker(s) in the Edinburgh area would you then recommend and why?

Cheers

Johnny Selkie

I live in Caithness and McAllans have 2 shops, Wick and Thurso. I have purchased 2 8yd 16oz Lochcarron strome tanks off them over the past year and I am very pleased with the quality and price. As far as I know only McAllans can supply the Caithness Tartan. A friend of mine has one. I have a MacLaren ancient which cost £280.00 and a MacLaren weathered for £330.00 both 16oz Lochcarron Strome.
When buying made to measure I prefer to go in the shop, let them measure me and discuss the details such as length, number of straps and colour etc. Then if anything goes wrong such as incorrect measurements they cannot blame you if you measured yourself.
Where do you live? There are many good kiltmakers in Scotland (and some bad)
A business would not last long in Caithness with the small population we have up here, if they were bad, so I can recomend them.

Caithness Tartan (Product Code: CAITH) Price: £350.00 Delivery: 8 weeks The Caithness Tartan exclusivly available through McAllans.
A 13 oz tartan weaved in one of the finest mills in Scotland hand-stiched into a high quality 8 yard kilt by a traditional kilt maker






Maybe my next kilt

Hope this helps.

Chris.

[Jock Scot]

There is a ghillie on the Thurso who has a three piece "shooting" suit made in that tartan. Somewhat of a shock to the system in a couple of ways at first, but very effective nonetheless.

[Johnny Selkie]

I live in Caithness and McAllans have 2 shops, Wick and Thurso. I have purchased 2 8yd 16oz Lochcarron strome tanks off them over the past year and I am very pleased with the quality and price. As far as I know only McAllans can supply the Caithness Tartan. A friend of mine has one. I have a MacLaren ancient which cost £280.00 and a MacLaren weathered for £330.00 both 16oz Lochcarron Strome.
When buying made to measure I prefer to go in the shop, let them measure me and discuss the details such as length, number of straps and colour etc. Then if anything goes wrong such as incorrect measurements they cannot blame you if you measured yourself.
Where do you live? There are many good kiltmakers in Scotland (and some bad)
A business would not last long in Caithness with the small population we have up here, if they were bad, so I can recomend them.

Caithness Tartan (Product Code: CAITH) Price: £350.00 Delivery: 8 weeks The Caithness Tartan exclusivly available through McAllans.
A 13 oz tartan weaved in one of the finest mills in Scotland hand-stiched into a high quality 8 yard kilt by a traditional kilt maker






Maybe my next kilt

Hope this helps.

Chris.

Unfortunatly (that is kiltwise) I live in Norway and therfore have no local kiltmakers around. From what you've written above, I see that McAllans is a top notch kiltmaker with the resonable prices I thought they were. I think I'll still opt for the Sinclair hunting ancient strome tartan as they don't have the Caithness tartan in 16 oz, but I must admit its very tempting to get the Caithness district as well. How are the McAllans kilts compared to lets say the Kinloch Anderson versions?

[Johnny Selkie]

There is a ghillie on the Thurso who has a three piece "shooting" suit made in that tartan. Somewhat of a shock to the system in a couple of ways at first, but very effective nonetheless.

Haha, thats funny. I find the Caithness to be a very nice tartan and being restricted to McAllans its brings a little "commitment" into getting ahold of it.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The Caithness tartan is only available from McAllens. I have made a couple of kilts in it (well, one kilt and one lady's skirt), for a couple who ordered the fabric from McAllens and delivered it to me to make their kilts. I thought the 13 oz fabric was a bit light, but apparently that was all it was available in.

[Johnny Selkie]

Too bad they don't make a 16 oz version of the Caithness tartan. Here's a short article by the designer of the Caithness tartan, Trudi Mann from 1995.
Here she shares her thoughts on the origins of clan tartans.http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfi...an_tartans.htm