The Scottish Wildcat Tartan thread: conceived here on X-Marks!

[Alan H]

While this thread is open (still waiting to hear from the mods), anybody can work up a design and put it in here!

Regarding the green stripe, one of our august members, one of the very few of us who've actually seen a Wildcat, let us know that the animals eyes are in fact yellow. Thus the replacement of the green stripe with yellow.

Please, when suggesting design ideas or submitting your own, let's all try to avoid accusations aimed at others about them personally, or their designs. Suggestions like "maybe you should look at some pictures of Wildcats" isn't terribly helpful. Of course, McMurdo has referred, repeatedly to photographs of the cats as he's worked on the various designs. If McMurdo's design concepts aren't your concepts, it doesn't mean that he's an A.) bad man B.) blind C.) totally ignoring the cats themselves D.) out to pad his own ego.

come on, folks...let's try to be kind to each other as we work through this. We've already had one growling session, lets not have another one!

Orionson, in fact Andrew Elliott Weavers is my next contact. After that I have one more "small" weaver, and then I'll try Marton Mills. After that, House of Edgar. After that, N. Bately. If none of those will do it, then I'll try the mill in British Columbia that Gordon Kirkbright runs as a last resort since they're not in the UK.

And if none of them want to do it, I don't know what to say!!

[KiltedKnome]

If none of those will do it, then I'll try the mill in British Columbia that Gordon Kirkbright runs as a last resort since they're not in the UK.

And if none of them want to do it, I don't know what to say!!

Just so you know, Fraser and Kirkbright in Vancouver, BC, has shut down, so drop that mill off your list of possibilities. I believe he is now associated with Ingles Buchan in UK.

[Steve Ashton]

You can forget N. Batley too. They went out of business about five years ago.

Andrew Elliot is in Selkirk very near to Lochcarron, Dalgliesh and Ingles Buchan, but do not normally weave Worsted Tartan. They are a Tweed weaver.

Ingles Buchan requires a 60 meter minimum run.
Lochcarron can do shorter runs but do not normally offer that to retail customers. Their usual is also 60 meters.
The 60 meters minimum will also apply to House of Edgar.

That leaves you with Marton Mills. They will do an 11 yard minimum run for £39.00 per meter.

[Downunder Kilt]

Steve, just a bit of a correction, the name N.Bately is no longer used for the business but is now known as N. B. Fabrics Limited. They have just done 3 Bolts of the Australian tartan for the Australian Army. http://www.nbfabrics.co.uk/

[Steve Ashton]

You are correct.

[Alan H]

I did not know that N. Bately had done out of business!....ouch. Thanks for that information.
EDIT: OK, good to know that the company is still producing tartan. I was surprised to hear that they were gone because Scotweb still sells their fabric. Old backstock?

I knew that Fraser and Kirkbright had shut down but I thought that Gordon was still running a "downsized" version of the mill. Is that not the case?

I have a bizarre "in" with House of Edgar that might get 'round that issue. Maybe. We shall see. I won't hold my breath, though.

My "other" mill was to be Caerlee Mill, but now I see that they closed down in February! OUCH.
How about the Islay Wool Mill....they may only do Tweeds.

Thanks for the information, Steve. This is pretty grim.

[Theyoungkiltman]

Here is my version of it the sett size is six inches.

[Alan H]

I've sent an inquiry to NB fabrics...

Steve, Andrew Elliott Weavers is advertising tartan that they've designed and produced, on their website, though at first glance it does appear to be all about tweeds.

[Theyoungkiltman]

This is a tweed conceptalthough with some scaling up, it could be the tartan as well. The sett size is 2.7 inches

[KiltedKnome]

I knew that Fraser and Kirkbright had shut down but I thought that Gordon was still running a "downsized" version of the mill. Is that not the case?

He has shut down his mill, and the looms are gone. It is not an easy business to be in, anymore.