Sett size and bow ties

**Mikilt** · 23rd October 13, 08:54 AM

Hello Rabble,
I make my own bow ties and I am considering making one in the Xmarks tartan. The problem is that I can't quite fit the elements of the tartan onto the pattern. Basically, it would just look like a blue bow tie with white stripes on one end. There is either no grey or no white.

Is there a way to "shrink" a sett? Like so that I can get several sett repeats on a smaller piece of cloth? I realize that I am talking about getting a piece of fabric custom made/printed. I am just wondering if a sett can be shrunk.

Example: the background here on XMarks size. If I could get it printed as is on a piece of fabric, I think it would make a great bow tie.

**Tobus** · 23rd October 13, 09:48 AM

Typically when they make tartan ties and scarves and such, they are done in a non-twill weave that has a much smaller sett size. But you'd be looking at a custom order, which probably isn't possible for the quantity you're needing.

Personally, I think having only the white stripe showing on the bowtie would look better than actually seeing the tartan pattern. It would complement the tartan, but not mimic it outright.

Have you experimented with using tartan fabric for a bowtie? I would think the twill weave might make it difficult to tie neatly. But I admittedly haven't tried it.

**Grizzly** · 23rd October 13, 10:15 AM

I think that probably your best bet and cheapest is to take a photo of the tartan resize it to get the size of the set you require and then send a digital JPEG file to a company that prints photos on to fabric.
This is what my kiltmaker did with one of my photos to get the lining on my latest kilt. I believe that a minimum of 1 sq mtr can be produced this way.

**Mikilt** · 23rd October 13, 10:44 AM

I just found this site:
http://www.fabricondemand.com/index.html

They print custom fabrics. Now all I need is permission from Steve (I think) to recreate the tartan.

**MacLowlife** · 23rd October 13, 10:46 AM

There is a site called SPOONFLOWER that may prove useful to you in your thinking process. You will get a printed fabric, not a woven one, similar to what Grizzly describes. Be warned, some colors ( especially grey) require a lot of texture to look attractive. Printed flat on a smooth fabric, they may not look good. But it is probably hundreds of dollars cheaper than having the XMarks tartan run up in silk. Dalgliesh can do that for you.

**JohntheBiker** · 23rd October 13, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Grizzly

I think that probably your best bet and cheapest is to take a photo of the tartan resize it to get the size of the set you require and then send a digital JPEG file to a company that prints photos on to fabric.
This is what my kiltmaker did with one of my photos to get the lining on my latest kilt. I believe that a minimum of 1 sq mtr can be produced this way.

Ingenious solution to the problem.

**Steve Ashton** · 23rd October 13, 11:09 AM

About five years ago some members were looking for an X Marks tie. The decision at the time was not to use the actual X Marks Tartan fabric but find an off-the-rack tie in similar colors.

here is what was the winning offering.

**Mikilt** · 23rd October 13, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

About five years ago some members were looking for an X Marks tie. The decision at the time was not to use the actual X Marks Tartan fabric but find an off-the-rack tie in similar colors.

here is what was the winning offering.

I do have one and I love it, but I am more of a bow tie guy.