Gordon tartan variations

[OC Richard]

It was common in the 19th century for weavers to add black lines to either side of light stripes to reinforce them. So you'll often see the same tartan both with and without these lines.

[RockyR]

It was common in the 19th century for weavers to add black lines to either side of light stripes to reinforce them. So you'll often see the same tartan both with and without these lines.

Yes, but in some cases, it changes the name of the tartan. Case in point: Lamont Vs Forbes.

[Danwell]

The two examples you showed to us are both computer generated images, rather than photographs of woven fabric. The issue you are discussing is not really one of choosing between two different Gordon tartans, but simply one of which mill's "blue" you like better than another. That will of course vary from mill to mill.

If you like the shade in your friend's kilt, why not ask him where he got it, and does he know what mill wove the cloth?

Barring that, do as others have suggested and request sample swatches from various mills before you order your kilt.

He has no idea......it was an old band kilt from a band long since dissolved.
I've got a photo of me wearing it - I'll try to take a photo of the photo (best I can do, no scanner) so you can see the colours I'm looking at.

Your FIRST picture looks like a variation of Gordon... it has black lines surrounding the yellow stripe. All of the mills in Scotland weave it without the black surrounds. The 'Standard' Gordon tartan is just yellow flanked by green.

The one I've worn doesn't have the black I'm quite sure - it was more the purple hue I was pointing to.

The specific shade of blue varies from mill to mill, from weight to weight, and from colour scheme to colour scheme.

There are a number of available colour schemes such as modern, ancient, weathered, muted, etc.

Each mill's "modern" will have slightly different shades.

And the same mill's colours/shades might vary a bit between their 13oz and their 17oz fabric.

So yes you will need swatches.

People often don't notice, by the way, how much purple is present in the colour we call "navy blue".

The reason I asked this question was to find whether or not anyone knows which mills tend to have a more "purply" blue than a true "blue" blue.

I'd suggest getting a swatch first to be sure you get the one you like.

Definitely order swatches. Eight or ten bucks each, takes about two months to get them in Royal Mail, worth every penny. Sounds like you have time.

And do order one swatch from the Loch Carron Strome line. I got a piece in about a week ago, I see that the tuck-in selvedge on it is going to make the bottom edge of the kilt almost bullet proof.

EDIT: Also keep an eye on the remants pages. Remnants of double wide under one meter long are often priced like swatches. http://www.scotweb.co.uk/buy/tartan-...amily_id=40770

Would prefer to narrow down the mills first before sending out requests for three different colour schemes from 5 different mills at how ever many pounds a swatch.

Thanks for the information and replies so far.......it seems like there isn't any kind of easy way around this unfortunately.

[Downunder Kilt]

Have you tried talking to Doug at StKilda Retail (All Things Tartan) over in Brisbane. He may well be able to narrow down the mills. I know that he has a number of swatch books from several mills

[Danwell]

No, I haven't yet. Next time I'm heading through that way I'll drop in and have a chat to them about it.....I hadn't even thought of that to be honest!

[svc40bt]

If you are looking for the navy blue (purple) version, you need only order the modern color scheme for your swatch. Ancient (lovat blue) and weathered (gray) are not going to be what you are looking for.