American tartans

[OC Richard]

Why must all American tartans have red/white/blue in them? I'd like to think we have more imagination than that...

That puts the finger on a thing that I don't care for, the shift from the original Highland approach to tartan design of tartan being a purely artistic expression, with colours and patterns selected for visual effect alone, to the 'tick the boxes' approach nowadays, where the colours are limited to the ones appearing in some other thing like a flag or county crest or soft drink bottle.

Though it is indeed quite challenging, from an art standpoint, to design an acceptably clothlike/tartanlike pattern when using such limited and untartanlike colours. I went around and around trying to design a Cornish tartan that wasn't garish, hard to do if you limit yourself to black, white, and yellow.

That Bicentennial tartan from the 1970s is pretty garish. It's a strong design but it's going to be garish if you limit yourself to red, white, and blue in equal amounts (well they did put in a little black)



This one is the most pleasing by far IMHO. We should keep in mind that tartan is cloth, for clothing, and not a diagram or logo. It strikes me as Spirit Of Scotland with underplayed red/white/blue elements added, as pleasing a design as possible if the requirement is to use pure red, white, and blue



The most successful tartan I've seen that's entirely red/white/blue is not an American one, but Scotland 2000



I was working on a tartan for a local Fire Department Pipe Band. Taking a cue from Isle Of Skye, which has three different greens, I used three different blues, to get a more tartanlike/clothlike appearance. This could pass as a red/white/blue tartan if I changed the sky blue lines to white



Now that garish Bicentennial tartan is much improved by changing all the colours in it, as here in the Dalgleish Reproduction Colours version



Three cheers for the claret, white, and grey!

[EagleJCS]

I've been reading this thread with some interest, as I also don't care much for the tartans that have been designed as patriotic US tartans. But, actually reproducing the stripes in a tartan would be edging very close to a violation of the US Flag Code (US Code, Title 4 Chapter 1). I think that may be one reason why the American tartans that already exist simply use some combination of red white and blue.

In section 3 there are prohibitions against using the flag, or any part thereof, "by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America."

In Section 8 (titled 'Respect for flag'), part (d), it states: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery." In the same section, part (i) states, in part: "It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard." And part (j) starts with: "No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations."

The only fine or punishment defined in the Flag Code for any violation is in section 3, regarding using the flag for advertising, or writing upon or otherwise defacing the flag.

Being an Eagle Scout and having been involved in several flag ceremonies on various levels (from campsite up to prominent public ceremonies), I've done a lot of study on US flag etiquette and protocol (and I’m still learning). This was something that was brought to my attention when I was a young Scout, and I've been very conscious of it ever since.

If a tartan is designed as a US patriotic tartan with red white and blue and you don't want it too somber, use lighter shades (maybe red as the base with white overcheck/stripes?) and maybe use a blue 'guarding stripe'.

[OC Richard]

In Section 8 (titled 'Respect for flag'), part (d), it states: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery."

Like this?



There's no limit to the stuff one sees done up in the flag, from socks and underwear to airplanes and cars, and shops that specialize in such. Does anyone ever prosecutes any of these violations of the law?



"part (j) starts with: "No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform." Interesting that the USA mens and womens soccer teams wear a quite flaglike uniform



The limits imposed by the nature of tartan means that actual stripes, not to mention stars, are impossible, and no red/white/blue tartan could be confused with the US flag.

[Calgacus]

Like this?

Find me that woman and I shall happily remove the offending article forthwith!

[LongShanks]

Give it a go try your hand at what you like be hooked what others think. I'm Scottish I don't like anything or anyone so there! follow this link and build your own and have it registered. http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...rtan-designer/ and http://tartanregister.gov.uk/search.aspx

[Mike_Oettle]

Interesting idea, Calgacus, but I think you might get a black eye for your efforts!

Actually, it was my own dislike for David McGill’s design named South Africa (and supposedly based on the flag adopted in 1994) that prompted me to try my own effort, which is now registered under the name Spirit of 1994.

Like Nathan I would love to have a try at getting this sett woven, but as a pensioner I lack the funds to even try. But hopefully my financial situation will improve. I have a dream of getting D C Dalgliesh to weave me eight yards in wool so that I can have a kilt, a waistcoat (vest) and some scarves made up. But with that on display, I then hope to attract enough interest to commission a longer run in polyviscose (better suited to the South African climate, and cheaper) so that I can market that.
In the long run I hope to build up sufficient demand in South Africa (not only for my own designs, but also for others, although I have a good number of my own) to see tartan as popular in my own country as it is in North America and Britain.

Benning Boy, I rather like your attempts and wish you luck with an alternative design.
At the same time, I feel that OC Richard has some useful ideas too.
Regards,
Mike

[Calgacus]

Interesting idea, Calgacus, but I think you might get a black eye for your efforts!

I never specified what techniques I was going to employ






TBH, a black eye is the most likely outcome.

[fluter]

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.

[McMurdo]

I just went over to the tartan designer on Scotweb and came up with this, I wanted to use red white and blue as these are quintessentially American colours, I also added amber and purple for Amber waves of grain and Purple mountains majesty respectfully.



My point is that you could do the same thing. Here is the link to Scotweb's tartan designer:

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/design/

[TheOfficialBren]

Glen, very nice design.

Richard, the subdued colours make a world of difference!