Fellow Xmarks tartan owners....

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Gordon wrote:

I take pride in our work, so if you have a specific complaint...contact me directly, rather than taking pot-shots from the weeds.

Just to further comment on that: one of my three clients having kilts made from this cloth asked if anyone had contacted you, Gordon, yet. I told him I did not know.

But I hope you'll forgive me for not contacting you directly. As I was not your customer here, I didn't think it to be my place. In this instance, my clients supplied their own cloth to me, which they purchased from Steve Ashton, which he had woven by yourself.

I recommended to the one who asked that if he wanted to get feedback to you that he first contact Steve, as he was Steve's customer, and then get Steve to talk with you -- as Steve was your direct customer. I thought this the most proper course of action for anyone who wanted to make a comment or complaint. I have no idea if he followed through with that, or decided that it wasn't a big enough deal to make an issue over.

The other two clients of mine haven't expressed (to me) any desire to make this into a big issue.

My main concern, first and foremost, is that my cleints are happy with their kilts. If they are okay, I'm okay. :-) If they didn't think this was a huge deal, then I wasn't going to make a fuss over it.

Again, I'm only discussing this on the forum because my name has been brought up and I felt the need to clairfy what I saw as the main issue before the rumor weeds took over!

All the best!
Matt

[Robin]

Barb emailed me about this on May 8th, she explained the problem and was kind enough to include a picture.

I got the option...hem or a "bleeding" stripe...I'll have to live with the bleeding stripe since I don't want a hem, but it would be much nicer without this problem of course

This is the picture I received...hope Barb don't mind I posted it.

[ronstew]

That's it? That's what we're worrying about? Yeesh.

My jonesing for my 5 yards next month is not diminished at all.

[possingk]

That's it? That's what we're worrying about? Yeesh.

My jonesing for my 5 yards next month is not diminished at all.

I agree fully!

[Schultz]

I noticed this when I first got my yardage and figured it was just due to the turn over selvedge process. I took a look at Hamish's pictures and saw that his kilt looked much the same, selvedge-wise, and decided then and there not to worry about it at all.

I have about 6 pleats out of 27 left to sew. YAY!

[efer]

Thanks for the informative picture Robin (& Barb).

It helps clarify exactly what folks are talking about.

I agree with a few other posters that it does not appear to be a "big" issue. I think that it may be noticeable if you "set to stripe" with the bottom white stripe a lil' bit different the rest.

for discloser purposes...I'm part of the 2nd run of the 2nd run
Cheers

[Robin]

Of course it's not the end of the world, but nonetheless...it looks somewhat sloppy and it could have been avoided.

90% is nice, but 100% is better...we pay for it...it's not some sort of freebie.
Imho...the complaint is justified.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I'll just add that I was the one who asked Matt if anyone had contacted Steve or F&K, and he replied as he indicated. I sent a note to Steve to see if he was aware of the selvedge issue. He was and responded that it was an issue with the first run as well, and after reviewing Ham's post, and then seeing a sample at the Gatlinburg Games, decided I would have it hemmed. Not a big deal for me, so I did not pursure it any further. As others have stated, I would have preferred to know up front, likely would have still ordered, but was surprised when I got the email from Matt.

And having seen the actual second run cloth, it is not very noticeable unless you look closely.

[Gordon]

Matt,

thanks for the constructive reply.
I agree that it is usually more appropriate for the buyer (steve) of the fabric to be the one contacting the mill over quality issues. In this case, as a fellow xmarks member, I don't mind direct emails from the end customers.

I am glad to hear that the majority of people recognise the selvedge issue to be of little or no significance.

Cheers
Gordon

[Riverkilt]

Boy does a picture help!!

I've been following both threads and staring at my kilt and scratching my head (there's always 2% who don't get the word).

Okay, now that I can SEE what's being talked about I can see that my kilt is similar. Only, for whatever reason, my selvedge is turned back so that the entire width of the bottom white stripe has the blue, not just half.

Looking at the kilt, and pics of the kilt, I'm not sure I would want a whiter stripe along the selvedge, nor would I want the bottom white stripe eliminated by a hem.

If the bottom white stripe were white as the rest I think it might look a bit like I was wearing an old hoop skirt frame deal.

If the bottom white stripe were hemmed up I think the tartan kilt would look chopped or unfinished.

To me (yes I know I don't know much) this sort of softer white along the hem provides sort of a transition, a fade out if you will. Its there, but its not there as strong.

And, I can guarantee I've never had a comment about it, even from the kilt police at games. And if I sorta know what I'm looking for and stare at it and stare at it and stare at it and can't figure it out until a picture is posted with comparative arrows I don't expect the general public is gonna notice and I'm certainly not gonna lose any sleep over it.

I do appreciate all the posts that have helped me expand my knowledge of selvedges though.

Is this a great board or what??!!

Ron