Saltire kilt's tartan??

[M. A. C. Newsome]

And if anyone wanted hose to match either of those kilts...

[OC Richard]

Since the saltire effect on the back of the saltire kilts evidently has nothing to do with the sett of the tartan itself, it's too bad that they don't sell the tartan sans the added bits, so that ordinary kilts could be made from it.

I say this because I like that tartan, but not the X on the pleats.

[unixken]

I wonder if there's something simpler at work here. Imagine the fabric already pleated, and then overlayed with a stencil, through which a dye, ink, or "fading agent" of some kind is applied. Is there any difference in the texture of the fabric where the elements of the pattern appear?

[artificer]

Since the saltire effect on the back of the saltire kilts evidently has nothing to do with the sett of the tartan itself, it's too bad that they don't sell the tartan sans the added bits, so that ordinary kilts could be made from it.

I say this because I like that tartan, but not the X on the pleats.

If you could buy the length of tartan needed, you could just have the Saltire bits set on the inside of the pleats (although this would probably require having it pleated to the horizontal stripe)

ith:

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I wonder if there's something simpler at work here. Imagine the fabric already pleated, and then overlayed with a stencil, through which a dye, ink, or "fading agent" of some kind is applied. Is there any difference in the texture of the fabric where the elements of the pattern appear?

Yes, a kilt like this could be made in this way, but that's not how it's done here. The House of Edgar weaves the pattern into the cloth itself. I've seen the looms.

This is also what Steve, I, Paul and others have already said. Trust us. ;-)

[ForresterModern]

Yes, a kilt like this could be made in this way, but that's not how it's done here. The House of Edgar weaves the pattern into the cloth itself. I've seen the looms.

This is also what Steve, I, Paul and others have already said. Trust us. ;-)

No further doubts, at least from me. But now knowing the added white segments of the saltire that show on the pleats are actually sewn into the "tartan" fabric itself makes me wonder just exactly what the back side of the tartan in those areas looks like, since normally a tartan is identical front and back except for the different angle of the twill lines. I would assume that if they are built into the fabric front by design that they would also be there on the backside too, but again that is simply an assumption based on what little I think I understand about how tartan is woven. Are the same patterns there as well, or some amalgamation of loose threads ends of some sort?
Never a trust issue as we all recognize you folks as the experts, merely one of understanding.

[Paul Henry]

No further doubts, at least from me. But now knowing the added white segments of the saltire that show on the pleats are actually sewn into the "tartan" fabric itself makes me wonder just exactly what the back side of the tartan in those areas looks like, since normally a tartan is identical front and back except for the different angle of the twill lines. I would assume that if they are built into the fabric front by design that they would also be there on the backside too, but again that is simply an assumption based on what little I think I understand about how tartan is woven. Are the same patterns there as well, or some amalgamation of loose threads ends of some sort?
Never a trust issue as we all recognize you folks as the experts, merely one of understanding.

They are not sewn into the tartan, they are part of the weaving, and not an added decoration.If you look closely at the Rampant Lion kilt, you will be able to see that the normal twill weaving is changed into non twill weave for the pleat portions that have the design element on them. The wrong side of the fabric will probably have the reverse elements in the pattern element in the alternative colour to some extent, although with clever weaving this will be disguised a little.
So no loose threads, it's all contained within the actual cloth

[RockyR]

They are not sewn into the tartan, they are part of the weaving, and not an added decoration.If you look closely at the Rampant Lion kilt, you will be able to see that the normal twill weaving is changed into non twill weave for the pleat portions that have the design element on them. The wrong side of the fabric will probably have the reverse elements in the pattern element in the alternative colour to some extent, although with clever weaving this will be disguised a little.
So no loose threads, it's all contained within the actual cloth

Correct... the 'bad side' of the cloth has the 'negative' of the front side. If you made the kilt 'inside out', you'd have a NEGATIVE X on the pleats. The back side would be mostly white with a blue(ish) X.

[fluter]

I have almost convinced myself that one could approximate the saltire effect... but you'd have to pleat the kilt on the bias.

I hereby nominate Jeff to perform the experiment, and report back when he's succeeded.

Yes, that would make for some interesting joins. I recommend using a double-width fabric.

[ForresterModern]

Sorry, Paul, I mis-spoke when I said "sewn in" and did indeed mean "woven in" to the fabric, but was just curious what the back side would look like.

Fluter, you have far greater faith in my visualization and planning skills than I or the rest of the world have. If HoE has figured out an easy way to do it and market it why should I try to re-invent the wheel. Heck I am not even particularly fond of the saltire or rampant lion or thistle design kilts to begin with, so why should I expend the brainpower trying to find a novel way of doing something similar, when I could be playing Angry Birds instead?