Time for a New York State tartan?

**Woodsheal** · 26th April 10, 04:27 PM

The Buffalo tartan looks quite different to my eyes.

Is the the slate gray darker? I'd like to see how that looks....

**andyfg** · 26th April 10, 04:41 PM

Very nice!

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by csbdr

Nice! I'd wear it with pride, and think it represents NY well. I wonder how it would pleat up?

Wow...I just noticed where the multi- lines cross it looks just like an Adirondack pack basket weave. Was that intentional? Sure is fitting.

Thanks for the compliment. The basket weave effect is just something I like to do, but it's nice that it seems to echo something in NY State history.

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Spc. Scott

I like it! Good design and I totally agree with the meanings behind to color choices. Especially our "undiscovered" farmland.

I live in a very rural agricultural area and I think most people would be surprised to learn how much farming actually happens in NY.

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

It looks like a fantastic tartan to me!

Do remember that anything that you save using the Scotweb tartan designer automatically belongs to Scotweb, though. That means that, if you should be able to push this tartan all the way to the top and get it adopted by the state, Scotweb will be the only one who can weave it legally. Just wanted to make mention of that.

Again, that's a fantastic looking tartan. Keep up the good work!

Thanks, Ryan, I appreciate your kind words.

I'd like to think that some sort of deal could be worked out with Nick that would respect Scotweb's weaving rights yet not make the material difficult, or too expensive, to acquire. I'd really like to see how it would look in Harris tweed, as he showed in the thread about his trip to the Isles.

BTW, I love the new bonnets you're making for the Museum. The price is a bit steep for me, but someday....

Regards,

Brian

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Bludongle

Love the colors. is it possible to have multiple meanings for the colors? The history of exploration and individualism (Erie Canal, Woodstock) or industry and innovation (Fingerlakes Wineries and Wall Street)?

I was merely stating why I chose the particular colors I did. I am not wedded to any particular interpretation of them, but even if I was you'd certainly be free to interpret them in any way that pleased you.

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted Abuser of Rubber Chickens

I agree NY state should have it's own tartan, I've always admired New York City tartan and your design is equal in every way. I'd be proud to stand next my New York cousins in my Ontario tartan.

Thanks, Grant. I live about an hour South of the border on the East end of Lake Ontario and value the friends I have in Canada. I have been to Montreal a few times on vacation and have visited a few places in Ontario and have always felt at home there.

I'm not familiar with the Ontario tartan, but I do like the Maple leaf!

**Riverkilt** · 26th April 10, 08:45 PM

Just me, but I think Woodstock should have its own tartan...

Many ancestors come from all parts of New York so I'd be interested in what shakes out of this effort.

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Wompet

I like the looks of it, but if I may make three points:

The colors are an almost perfect match to the Buffalo tartan. You might consider different shadings so the two tartans are more dissimilar.
I personally would go with a slate gray instead of the morning grey - to me it better evokes the architecture of New York's cities - solidity with style.
Just wanted to reiterate this. You may want to make further revisions using a different tartan designer - Matt Newsome recommended this one in his blog, and there have been a couple of others mentioned around the forum.

Thanks for your input, Wompet, I do appreciate it.

I took a look at the Buffalo tartan and I don't really see much similarity. Perhaps the color range is similar in some respects, but that could be said of a lot of traditional tartans. Look at how many are based on the Government Sett.

As regards your concern about Scotweb's weaving rights, please see my reply to Ryan above.

I don't know if you've ever used an online tartan designer, or any tartan design software, but I have not found a designer that is as user friendly as Scotweb's. I have tried several others and they're generally wonky and clumsy to use. Scotweb also has a greater variety of colors available to work with. The Croft Weaver you provided a link for is nearly as nice, but even its advanced color selection pales in comparison to Scotweb's. Maybe it's just me, but I am not really comfortable with any other designer.

**Brian K** · 26th April 10, 08:58 PM

Wompet,

I forgot to mention in my reply to you that I considered a darker grey for my design, but I thought it was too dark. In any event, slate grey is not a standard color at Scotweb (and since they have a vary large selection of standard weaver's colors it's perhaps the case with most weavers) and a special color makes a tartan more expensive. Besides, the grey I was looking to match was that of concrete, which is a much more common grey in today's cities than are those of slate or other natural stones.

Regards,

Brian