Sunday Challenge

[Mark's Mom]

She's pretty confident to wear white out to hunt bodies.

[figheadair]

So, look and you will see, and yes it does help to have a bigger screen

Given the (correct) size clue and Culloden reference here's what can be deduced from the picture:

- This is a white based blanket pattern of the type often called an arisaid tartan.

- There are three sections; top and bottom which overlay the central section. Conclusion - in/for the photo the ends have been overlaid towards the centre.

- There is a join in the centre of the piece. It's clearly visible in the top and bottom section. It the lower portion it can be seen in the left most full white square meaning that the ends have not been folded over in line. Conclusion - this is a joined plaid cut form a single length.

- The two joined pieces result in four ends that are finished in three different ways; knotted (purled), bound with red thread, left raw. Conclusion the original plaid have been damaged/cut at a later date and the original finishing is not immediately apparent.

- The two ends of the joined piece do not balance i.e. they finish at a different point. The two pieces of the lower end match whereas those on the upper piece don't. Conclusion - the match bottom end is probably original, the upper end is not the original.

- The upper left piece shows the beginning of the coloured band that can be seen towards the end of the bottom end. Conclusion - the upper joined end probably matched the lower one.

Here's an overview of one side of the piece sowing the join and the barred selvedge (herringboned).



I don't put any credence in the Culloden claim which is just a typical romantic story attached to any old piece of tartan. Personally I don't believe that these white based setts were used for clothing - far too impractical, and that these setts were used on domestic plaids. Given the (surviving) size of this piece I doubt it was practical for wearing.

The red wool thread that binds the lower right, and onto the lower left, end looks to be original and is possibly how both ends were finished. This is unusual and the only example I've ever seen of a plaid not having turned and sewn ends. For whatever reason the upper end was not finished (unlikely) or was damaged and someone has attempted to finish one piece at a later date.