An X Marks tartan

[Graham]

My question on this tartan is....is this already in existence, or does it have to be woven especially?

[Alan H]

This is a kilt-wearer's group. Don't you want to display your 'group tartan' in a KILT, rather than a hat or a tie???

Absolutely, Cyndi. Now, I'd think it was cool to have an X Marks tartan tie, but sure a kilt would be better. It's just that I have no idea how to go about getting the material made, without ordering 100 yards of it, for kilts. That's where the killer expense is. The expense was what stopped this project in its tracks last time. A commercial run of tartan from a Scottish mill is prohibitively expensive. Two yards from a handweaver is not.

If we could get a yard or two of the material woven, and some products made for very little money then there'd be something for people to actually LOOK at and see. I think it's easier to interest half a dozen people in a kilt in a given tartan if they can actually SEE the tartan as a piece of cloth and not just a computer graphic.

But hey, that's just me. Maybe I'm wrong, eh? If four or five people step up and say "I will order a kilt in this tartan, here's my money" and hand it to Matt or another kiltmaker, well heckarama! I'm all for it!

Those kilts will be $300-plus from Matt, though. I'm concerned that not enough people would/could/can commit to getting one made. However, I'm less concerned that we can get six-eight people to buy a tie for $25 - $30.

Let's hear it from the Board. Maybe we don't need to do the handwoven small-quantity and the ties, etc. 'cause there's no demand.

[seamus]

i'll put in my two cents. i PERSONALLY really do not like tartan ties (again, stress on personally). so what if we made up some kind of patch (maybe in addition) that we could sew onto jackets, etc., and, i dunno, get our motto stiched into it or something? that would be cool, and i imagine a cheap and easy way to get the tartan started. any thoughts?

[Hamish]

I'll cast my vote for the blue tartan also, like Hamish, I don't have a blue kilt, I like it, and I'd wear that tartan with pride!

well done Matt!

the big question (Hamish) is...what colour shirt would I wear with it?

Graham,

Well, Seamus has hit the nail squarely on the head! Pale Grey, White, even the Sky Blue would all work well for the shirt. The yellow would be a little too much, I think, although it would work very nicely in the flashes department.

The more I return to look at Matt's tartan, the more I like it. In fact, I'm "jonesin" already for it!

[Hamish]

i'll put in my two cents. i PERSONALLY really do not like tartan ties (again, stress on personally). so what if we made up some kind of patch (maybe in addition) that we could sew onto jackets, etc., and, i dunno, get our motto stiched into it or something? that would be cool, and i imagine a cheap and easy way to get the tartan started. any thoughts?

To an extent I agree with you, Seamus. The only time I will wear a tartan tie is when I am wearing a plain "TFCK", or similar, kilt. Besides, I very seldom wear a tie nowadays - and, as for hats, I touch 'em hardly at all!

Patches? None of my jackets is showing signs of wearing out so why should I patch any of them?

Sorry, but for me it has to be a kilt (preferably in wool) or nothing!

Take care,
Ham.
(PS: Oh, I dunno! Maybe a WOULD buy a tie - but it wouldn't see the light of day very often!)

[M. A. C. Newsome]

To answer a few questions in one post...

Graham wants to know if the cloth exists yet or has to be woven. It exists, at this point, in my mind only (and on the computer screen!)

How much would a kilt cost? Well, from my end, you can check out my regular prices:
http://kilts.albanach.org/price.html
A 4-yard box pleat made from single width, heavy weight tartan cloth is $480. The fact that this is custom woven doesn't change that.

How long would it take? About 8 weeks to have the cloth woven, then give me another few weeks to make the kilt.

How many would have to place orders to make it happen? Just one. I can do this on an individual basis.

Want a different style kilt, like an 8 yard knife pleat? Ok, just ask your kilt maker. He/she should also be able to get small quantities of the tartan woven for a single kilt. If they don't have a source to do that, have them ask me, I can get them cloth. If they don't want to touch the project, let me know, and I'll find a kilt maker who will for you!

Within the next day or two, as I find the time, I'll try and come up with a couple of other designs. I'll stick with the same color motif since people seem to really like this one. I just want you all to be able to see and compare a few options. And if anyone else wants to put forth a design for consideration, it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Aye,
Matt

[KiltedBishop]

I like it!!!! I miss out over the weekend and look what happens!!!
As for the tie I am with Hamish, maybe instead of a tie a fly plaid? just a thought...

[bubba]

Matt, replacing the yellow with red might look good. Just a thought.

[Alan H]

A fly paid...never thought of that. huh... do you ever wear a fly plaid in one tartan and the kilt in a different tartan? I have my doubts about that!

Last week I went and spent some time at the on-line tartan generator and after futzing around for an hour came up with one almost-decent looking tartan. It still looked like a brick wall, though. So I won't be popping out any tartans for our consideration!

BTW, there's nothing that says we have to get ONLY kilt material made or ONLY lightweight material made. Absolutely nothing in the world prevents us from doing both, eh?.

I propose a timeline here. If there isn't some sort of deadline, I know how these "internet projects" go...it'll never get done. So I propose that the deadline for submitting your tartan design for the X Marks tartan be Friday, April 22nd. That gives folks plenty of time.

Then we vote the following week from April 25th to the 30th. A week gives people plenty of time to chime in. This means that the whole thing lasts three weeks, which should catch the attention of anyone who's even a semi-regular on the Board and give everyone a pretty fair chance of getting a say in how it goes.. At 5:00, Pacific USA time on Friday April 30th I'll tally up the results and repor the winning design.

Sound Good?

[KiltedBishop]

Excellent call! Light the fire!