Introducing - A New Tartan

[Owl of Oban]

After spending most of my life wondering where my surname came from, imagine my delight in finding out last month we hale from the lovely shores of Bonnie Dundee! Long story short, a genealogical breakthrough was made by a researcher showing that Dundee was the port of embarkation for my forebears in the 1690s, headed for the shores of Virginia colony.

Now, I've worn kilts for years to honor mom's side of the family (Colquhoun) but of course, Breeden doesn't have a tartan...or rather, didn't until now.

Some of you may know that Matt Newsome is a tartan scholar of some reknown. He is also a tartan designer, having designed the X-marks tartan you see bordering this post. So, the creative fires were lit and here is the result...the Breeden Tartan.



For those of you with an interest in tartan design, the tartan is a blend of influences from the Stuart of Atholl and Dundee District setts, with some personal preferences as well. The colors are a nod to the national colors of France, Scotland, the U.S.A. and the state flag of Virginia.

I can't recommend Matt highly enough. His knowledge of tartan and ability to visualize and accurately represent my half-baked ideas and thoughts were excellent and very much appreciated.

Here's his website www.albanach.org

Let me know what you think! The tartan is in the queue at the weavers. Kilt to come by late spring I'd imagine.

[macwilkin]

Grand...just grand! ;)

Will you be registering with the Tartans Authority?

Cheers,

Todd

[michael steinrok]

Love The Field.anyway To See A Larger Swatch?

[Kilted Stuart]

I can see the Stuart in there. Very nice, i'd love to see that one pleated up.
I wonder which way it would look pleated the best. I can't really tell how big the pattern is.

Nice, very nice indeed.
Kilted Stuart

[GMan]

Very nice John, very nice.

One thing I like about this forum is how everyone is able and willing to share their knowledge. You and Matt have done good work.

[Jerry]

I can see the color of our Va State flag also. That is going to be one good looking kilt when you finally get it done.

[Owl of Oban]

Thanks for the comments, personally I'm thrilled with it.

Cajunscot, yes, the tartan will be registered with the STA once it has been woven. They require an actual woven sample.

I'll tile the sett to show a larger sample this weekend.

Cheers,
John

[Aggie]

John,

That is an excellent looking tartan. You and Matt have done well. I would like to see the final kilted product. I'm going through the same process with Matt, so I'm very interested in your progress. Please, keep us posted if you don't mind.

Cliff

[Owl of Oban]

Aggie, I will certainly keep the board up to date on the project. However, with weaving queues being what they are, I don't expect to see the first trial run of the tartan until late February earliest and probably March. After that it will be another 9 weeks to get the production run for all the kilts, sashes, plaids, etc that have been requested. Safe to say, I won't be in a Breeden tartan kilt before June....

Let us know how your project is going. I had a blast coming up with a tartan representation of the family history. Great fun!

Oh, and Hook 'em Horns. :grin:

-John
U.T., class of '94.

[Livingston]

Safe to say, I won't be in a Breeden tartan kilt before June....
-John
U.T., class of '94.

John, Looks like you should have it in time for the games there at Highlands and in pleanty of time for Long's Peak. Hope to see you at one or both.