In search of colors, not clans

[okiwen]

Is there a faster way to find a tartan than to look at each and every one? I am trying to find tartans that match or will look good with brown gillies. I am finding it very laborous to look at each name and variation down the list.

Thanks for the help. I am not colorblind, I just don't match well.

[ccga3359]

I believe ther is a way to search by colour, unfortunatly i don't have a link. Until someone can steer you in that direction, the answer is yes but I'm thinking that one still has to wade through a lot of tartans. On the other hand a saffron kilt looks good with lovat green hose, shirt and brown accesories, Maple leaf also comes to mind. I believe brown accesories are also intended for more a formal look.

[James MacMillan]

This doesn't answer your question, but it may help.

Every quality kilt maker that I have had the pleasure of working with, had sample books of different tartans. Swatches, I think they are called.

There are also several large books to be found in most well stocked public libraries, that have color plates of each tartan.

[Panache]

okwen,

If you are looking for a tartan specifically to wear with brown leather accessories I would suggest when looking looking at tartan swatches that you ignore all the Modern and Ancient colors and focus only on the weathered versions.

From my understanding of such things the weathered tartans are all somewhat muted and really lend themselves to brown leather accessories and daywear outfits. This might help to narrow down your search a bit.

Cheers

Jamie

[Balaamsass51]

Hello Okiwen.

You might try this. Go to www.tartansauthority.com and click on the Tartan Ferret. Then you may pick a color (from 10), or several of them. Then click on search. You'll get a list of tartans which have those colors. Still quite a long list, but even so it will not be all 6,000 or so.

Matt

[MacWage]

Hello Okiwen.

You might try this. Go to www.tartansauthority.com and click on the Tartan Ferret. Then you may pick a color (from 10), or several of them. Then click on search. You'll get a list of tartans which have those colors. Still quite a long list, but even so it will not be all 6,000 or so.

Matt

The Tartan Ferret (on the Scottish Tartan Authority site) ONLY shows the PATTERN of a tartan. The ACTUAL colors of a woven cloth will vary by mill. Also, each can be made in several ranges of colors. The most general ranges are:
-Modern- dark darks and vibrant hues (rich colors), the "standard" colors
-Ancient- a "faded" version of modern, like it is old
-Weathered- SUPPOSED to replicate tartan left buried in a bog. There is a good argument that that WHOLE notion is off base, but that was/is the claim.

-Also-> the mill that makes most of the small run custom orders can make it in several other color ranges, including the original tones of Wilson and Sons of Bannockburn (THE classic mill, closed since the 1920s), thanks to the work of Peter MacDonald.

For your purposes, the "weathered tartans" (there are several other terms used by mills for the equivalent range) should work as MOST tartans take on an "earthy" or "brownish" coloring.

[Thebes]

There is a Reverse Tartan Search at House of Tartan. You can enter a single color, even, if you wish, or a full patern. You can also exclude various colors.

The wonderful links you collect when you have a blog

[MacWage]

Lochcarron is one of the premier mills of Scotland and one that MANY of the American kilt makers get material.
http://www.lochcarron.com/
Look at their fabric pages
Here is their "Strome" lines (16 oz):
http://www.lochcarron.com/stromesw.htm
(Not exactly up-to-date, as several listed are no longer available)

[MacWage]

Lochcarron's wool tartans can be linked here:
http://www.lochcarron.com/highlander.html
Strome is 16 oz (heavyweight)
BRAERAICH is 13 oz (middleweight)
REIVER is the 10/11 oz stuff (lightweight)

[Colin]

http://www.scotlandshop.net/designer...rtanfinder.php

This is one of the best ones I have seen for colour searches.