D.C. Dalgliesh material colors!

[denmcdough]

I need some advice from the kilt makers on this forum! Anyone have dealings with ordering material from Dalgliesh?

My concern is this: I had a kilt made by Wally Catanach, Water Fall Kilts, K1 weight, this past winter, and I couldn't be more pleased with the material and craftsmanship of Wally....top notch, to say the least!!!! However, I was somewhat disappointed with the MacDonagh color...way too dark. The Scottish Tartan Authority pic shows it as a much brighter tartan. Now that I want to order two kilts for my boys, I'm waiting an answer from Dalgliesh to see if they can, indeed, make this tartan brighter. Does anyone know if this is possible??? Do you think Dalgliesh can do this for me? So far, no word back from them.

[Ryan Ross]

I'm certainly no kilt maker, but I know that Dalgliesh specializes in small runs of custom tartan, and that they will weave anything they legally can for you, in what colors you choose, so long as you order at least 4 yards. Furthermore, I know of several very well respected kilt makers who say that Dalgliesh cloth is their favorite to work with. I have a kilt in it myself, and must say that I like the hand better than that of my other kilts.

[Paul Henry]

DC Dalgliesh can do jsut about anything you ask them to, and they can change colours , or vary the actual shade. If you are worried ask them for some thread colours and take it from there.It's always difficult working from an image on print or a monitor, and some of the reference images are only computer generated anyway so they are really good a good guide!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Comparing a computer generated image to woven cloth is always going to be problematic.

The best way to get the specific colors you want is to be as specific as possible when ordering from the mill. Sending them a sample to match is the best option, obviously.

I note that in the STA's notes on this tartan, Peter MacDonald is listed as the source of the information. As Peter frequents this forum, perhaps he will be able to comment on the colors.

[denmcdough]

Thanks for the quick responses Matt, Ryan, and PaulHenry!

I do hope, Matt, that Peter sees this thread and will chime in.

The Dalgliesh material on my tank, which Wally made, is awesome. Wally said it's the best material he has ever worked with, and I agree.

Working off the computer will definitely make this problematic. I do hope that the next run of material will be a brighter color. My current colors are dark..the green and blue is not vibrant.

[davidlpope]

I recently had a custom-run of Weathered Hunting MacMillan tartan woven by Dalgliesh. I provided both a specific thread count and samples of the colors that I wanted from other tartans that Dalgliesh had woven and the finished product was exactly what I ordered. I believe that Dalgliesh weaves the best kilt fabric in the world. See this link:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-colors-59517/

Remember that the particular shades of colors are not specific to a tartan, only the thread count. That's why there are so many variations among the mills between ancient, muted, modern, etc. If you're really hung up on a particular shade of blue, green, etc. then you need to send them a sample to color-match.

Cordially,

David

[xman]

I provided both a specific thread count and samples of the colors that I wanted ...

I just did the same thing for MacDonald of Clanranald and am awaiting the K7 which is in the mail now. If you want to make it easier on yourself you could consider their Ancient colours. I feel they are very nice, like their Modern colour range, just a little richer than most others'.

[figheadair]

Comparing a computer generated image to woven cloth is always going to be problematic.

The best way to get the specific colors you want is to be as specific as possible when ordering from the mill. Sending them a sample to match is the best option, obviously.

I note that in the STA's notes on this tartan, Peter MacDonald is listed as the source of the information. As Peter frequents this forum, perhaps he will be able to comment on the colors.

I do hope, Matt, that Peter sees this thread and will chime in.

Working off the computer will definitely make this problematic. I do hope that the next run of material will be a brighter color. My current colors are dark..the green and blue is not vibrant.

Right chaps, chiming in.

Others have talk here and on other threads about the shade of various colours and Matt makes the very valid point about computer generated colours.

I suppose the first question is how did you order the material (threadcount, image reference?) and what shades did you specify? If you didn't specify then it's quite likely that Dalgliesh will have defaulted to modern colours.

This pattern dates to c1850-80 at which time shades were not specified in the same way that they are in some modern tartans but rather would have been the weaver's standard colour range. We don't know what they were and indeed they may have changed over time as the design would have been woven in either natural and/or early analine dyes depending on when and for how long it was produced. Here's my sample (Wilsons of Bannockburn's colours).



The botton line is that you can specifiy any colour range or combination of shades. All you need to do is tell Dalgliesh or better still, send them examples of what you want.

[denmcdough]

Hello Peter! Thanks for chiming in! I appreciate all your input!

To answer your question about what I asked for, well, as I was rather new to kilting at the time, I did not ask for anything specific. I just had my kilt maker do the ordering. I assumed, from pics that I had seen on the Scottish Tartan Authority, which shows the green and blue to be very much brighter than my finished product, that this was what I'd eventually end up with.

Now, I've contacted Dalgliesh about a brighter color, but have not had a response, yet.

See my thread: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f99/kilt-35-a-57830/

What I was hoping to get: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...n_name_search=

So, what specifically should I be asking for??? Should I send the site from the STA to Dalgliesh??? Would an ancient green look better?

[figheadair]

Hello Peter! Thanks for chiming in! I appreciate all your input!

To answer your question about what I asked for, well, as I was rather new to kilting at the time, I did not ask for anything specific. I just had my kilt maker do the ordering. I assumed, from pics that I had seen on the Scottish Tartan Authority, which shows the green and blue to be very much brighter than my finished product, that this was what I'd eventually end up with.

Now, I've contacted Dalgliesh about a brighter color, but have not had a response, yet.

See my thread: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f99/kilt-35-a-57830/

What I was hoping to get: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...n_name_search=

So, what specifically should I be asking for??? Should I send the site from the STA to Dalgliesh??? Would an ancient green look better?

It's only my opinion but in every case of a pattern of that era Wilsons' colours look better.