Autism Awareness

[TurboKittie]

I don't know anything about tartan design.

Yet, I did not let that stop me.

I designed a tartan today, in hopes of raising autism awareness. http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/42731


I made two white fields, each 44 threads to signify the 88, in the "1 in 88" as the current number of children currently diagnosed on the autism disorder spectrum.

Next I chose three shades of blue, for all the boys and their families who struggle with autism, because the diagnosis is much more prevalent with boys.

Then I added a little clover/pink because it is not only boys who receive the diagnosis.

Finally, I counted all the blue and clover in the tartan , and added roughly one third of that number in black, to signify those people so profoundly affected by autism, it leaves them completely non-verbal.

This tartan was inspired by my daughter, who was diagnosed with autism on her fourth birthday and ten years later, she's still completely non-verbal. I wanted something, simple and striking, that would spark conversation and as I already said....raise awareness.

Please let me know what you think. I am a complete noob in this area and if I have done something unheard of or something that's just not done, please let me know.

[LitTrog]

I cannot give any advice on the technical aspects of your tartan (although the execution seems much more solid than a few recent "cause" tartans I've seen) but I do like the colors--you've attached significance to each one and made the pink a nice accent. I could proudly walk around in that kilt and not feel like I'm wearing a predominantly pink skirt. (I have one of those and it requires the proper mindset.)

A good idea. Speaking strictly for myself, I know very little about autism other than the images which have been presented in popular culture. The tartan would be a good way to open a conversation, especially for folks (like me) who might be uncomfortable and afraid of asking stoopud questions.

[Jock Scot]

Good for you, of course "it should be done"! As a parent of three sons I suppose autism could well have afflicted one of them, it did not and I am thankful for that, but, it could have. I have had no need to know about it-----------nevertheless I should, we all should.

[brewerpaul]

Well done, I'd wear a kilt in that tartan indeed.

[mookien]

I like it! Congratulations on a good-looking tartan. You definitely have a knack for it. You should see some of the ugly tartan-like things I have designed with Scotweb's tools.

I have absolutely no problem with the fact that your tartan is associated with a cause - a good cause, too, IMHO. Your notes are straightforward, factual, and devoid of any polemic. If the registration notes of the three recent tartans referenced in my thread "And We Were Worried!?" had been written in a similar fasion, I would not have made an issue of them.

I hope to see your "Autism Awareness" tartan on the SRT someday. Thanks for sharing it with us.

John

[xman]

Scotweb uses full pivots at the front and back end of the thread count listing which are not repeated but rather stand alone numbers.

Each pleat (of a traditional kilt) optimally wants between 30-36 threads give or take a few depending on the wearer and the weaver.

The way you have it set up now there would be 132 white threads. If you want 88 white threads the second last white block should be 22 which would be repeated immediately after, or you could just put one white block of 88 at the final pivot which would not be repeated.

You might consider reducing the two, non pivot black lines by half or eliminating one to get the count you are looking for.

If you make the change to the white count you have a sett which will measure about 6½" and pleat to a traditional kilt fairly nicely if I'm not mistaken.

I find it attractive. Well done.

https://www.facebook.com/carlysvoice

[TurboKittie]

xman, I changed the white block to a single one, 88 count as per your suggestion.

Seen here - http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/42737

I still like it, though it makes me want to decrease the blue some to make the white more striking....but then again, I do not want to fiddle too much.

[bigdad1]

How the tartan looks isn't important to me and I haven't the artistic sense to judge but what does matter is your reason for designing it and your explanation. Congratulations on your upbeat attitude and best wishes to you and your daughter. Now and always.

[TurboKittie]

xman, I am not sure why, but I prefer this http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/42739

to the one I changed as per your suggestion. But, like I said I am a noob here and want something that works, as I'd like to see this as a kilt in some form. Is this better, or did I tweak to something that has now become harder to pleat?

(I am so glad everyone else likes this. Every response does give me a thrill. I do think there should be a few lighter or even white based tartans but that wasn't why I did this one. It just happened to work out that way when I thought of the meaning behind the colors I was choosing.)

[brewerpaul]

(I am so glad everyone else likes this. Every response does give me a thrill. I do think there should be a few lighter or even white based tartans but that wasn't why I did this one. It just happened to work out that way when I thought of the meaning behind the colors I was choosing.)

Personally I think you have balanced the white well with your other colours. Im not much of a white in the kilt person but I have found the Dress Gordon to be very nice tartan with white mixed in the blue and green. Your tartan is similar that the colour combinations keep the white in tow so to speak. They keep the white from jumping out too much and giving it a very attractive colour combination. Well done, I hope you have this made into cloth.