So do you find odd tartans?

[Drac]

Afternoon all,

Being a member of the Seabees I was wondering if there was a tartan to match and there is.



Now that I know it exists but I can't find it. I'm a good researcher but not coming up much on where to get it.

Jim

[rab _]

Generally, the most common tartans are easiest to find and the cheapest.
There are more than 10,000 (correct me if I am wrong) tartans registered, all of which may not actually have been woven.
The best option you have is to contact a mill directly, and enquire about the particular weight and finish (ancient, modern, weathered) they offer, and a minimum length they will produce for a private customer.
Alternatively, you can go via a kiltmaker who will quote a price for a finished kilt, although they may have a preferred mill which may not be the cheapest option.

[Chas]

Hi Drac,

The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "U.S. Seabees" tartan is shown below.

STA ref: 3838
STWR ref: none
Designer: Strathmore Woollen Company Ltd
Tartan date: Not Specified
Registration date: This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category: Military

Restrictions:

Registration notes: Tartan for the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion - CBs. Sample in Scottish Tartans Authority Dalgety Collection. One of a series of US Military Tartans woven exclusively by the Strathmore Woollen Co. Ltd. The Tartan was designed by Arthur Mackie, former mill manager, in co-operation with Lieutenant Lee Josselyn who served with a detachment of SeaBees at RAF Edzell in Scotland in the early 1990's. Lee Josselyn's enthusiasm introduced the concept of wearing tartan to many US servicemen and their families connected with the SeaBees. The Tartan is made up of the following colour combinations which reflect the SeaBee code of conduct: Dark Blue Stripe - 'The Navy we proudly serve'; Light Blue Stripe - 'The Oceans we've crossed'; Brown Stripe - 'The Mountains we've moved'; Red Stripe - 'The Blood nobly shed'; Yellow Cross check - 'The Twinkle in the every SeaBees eye'. It should be noted that this tartan has no formal US Military recognition, but through common usage has become widely accepted as a representative design.

You could start with the Strathmore Woollen Company Ltd

http://www.strathmorewoollen.co.uk/millshop/home.php

Regards

Chas

[castledangerous]

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/us_military.htm

[g koch]

Searching the Scotweb link (top right of page) showed this:

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/US%2...chterm=Seabees

[Drac]

Thanks both.

It's going to be a bit pricey for a kilt that way won't it

[ForresterModern]

Here is a better option for the fabric itself. Straight from the source---Strathmore:

http://www.strathmorewoollen.co.uk/m...&cat=10&page=6

At 25.53GBP per 11.5oz DW yard that would be about $168US plus shipping for the tartan, then you would have to pay for the kiltmaker which ranges from around $200-400 or more for the labor.

My wife is a retired US Navy Seabee. She would probably proudly wear the tartan, but unfortunatley is allergic to wool so won't be ordering.

Good luck with your quest.

[Mark Keeney]

deleted

[ForresterModern]

Or you could order a machine sewn 16 oz from Tartanweb for around $431US plus S/H and a wait of several months for the custom weave tartan. Or the same form Scottishkilts.net for $406 plus s/h and the same wait.

[O'Callaghan]

As a rule, registered tartans have been woven. It's a condition of registration. OTOH, the sample of a few yards that was woven for this purpose may be all that was ever made in some cases.

Many registered tartans can only be had as a 'special weave', i.e. woven to order, and this can get expensive. There are several in this category that I would like, but probably won't get, e.g. Callaghan (Irish clan), St. George (England) or Arsenal FC (soccer team). I believe some kilts may have been made and sold in the Arsenal tartan through the club, but I don't think that there are any left, or any plans to make more.

OTOH, Scotweb sells kilts in some relatively obscure tartans that I'm interested in, such as Munster (Irish kingdom, ruled by Callaghan of Cashel from 915-953) or Maryland (US state). However, they want approx. $300 for the former and $450 for the latter, just for a 4yd casual kilt, and I believe about twice as much for an 8yd kilt. They may well be the sort of people who would carry the Seabees tartan, but it would be in that ballpark pricewise if they do, and their prices for different tartans vary considerably.

Some of the Pakistani kiltmakers will make kilts in any tartan for rock bottom prices, but you may have to buy a dozen! (That may still be cheaper, and you could re-sell the other 11!).