Tartan of the Month - Aug 12: What do you see?

[SlackerDrummer]

Well, this piece appears to be made from one piece, so the original was definitely a larger piece and it isn't just that they didn't have enough material to make the item seen in Post #1. So probably a joined plaid or curtains/bed hanging/etc. reused later for this purpose. The red has held up well. Cochineal? It's a lovely tartan.

[xman]

This piece looks more faded than the other so perhaps there was an up side and a down side to whatever it was made into.

Some holes remain undarned and others are darned with different thread.

There is stitching right around the outside edge, but the straight edge is turned back on itself to form some kind of pocket perhaps with the other.

[figheadair]

Well, this piece appears to be made from one piece, so the original was definitely a larger piece and it isn't just that they didn't have enough material to make the item seen in Post #1. So probably a joined plaid or curtains/bed hanging/etc. reused later for this purpose. The red has held up well. Cochineal? It's a lovely tartan.

Well done. Yes, cohineal. Now, compare the two piece and what else can you tell about the original cloth?

This piece looks more faded than the other so perhaps there was an up side and a down side to whatever it was made into.

Actually it's just more dirty. And if not because of being more used then?

Some holes remain undarned and others are darned with different thread.

Meaning?

There is stitching right around the outside edge, but the straight edge is turned back on itself to form some kind of pocket perhaps with the other.

No. Think about making clothing etc.

[xman]

Actually it's just more dirty. And if not because of being more used then?

Meaning?

Being more poorly stored.

No. Think about making clothing etc.

sleeve?

[figheadair]

Being more poorly stored.

No.

sleeve?

No, I said Think about making clothing etc; making not types and it's not solely confined to clothing that was just the easiest, or so I thought, lead.

[Tobus]

Was this done with Wilson's colours? This might be a bit of a stretch, but you said this was purchased in St. Fillans, which is not too terribly far up the road from Bannockburn. And from the (very little) I have read of your past mentions of "Wilson's colours", it seems like it might be. So my guess would be that it was woven by the Wilsons of Bannockburn.

Furthermore, given the fact that there are many repairs on the fabric, done with identical thread, it looks like the person who did the repairs would have had access to the same thread from the mill (or perhaps they just robbed thread from other scraps of the same cloth, I dunno). Re-weaving all those repair holes might show that the person who did it had experience in such a thing, and perhaps worked at a mill. Or, I could be wrong, and repairing cloth was a common skill in those days.

But since you gave us a clue to think about "making clothing" or something similar, I wonder if this piece of tartan fabric was perhaps used by a person who worked at the mill. I can't imagine what it would have been used for, as I don't know much about the weaving process or what else goes on there. But some of the clues mentioned seem to fit together enough that it seems possible that this fabric had something to do with a tartan mill or weaver's daily work. Considering the damage, maybe it was a rag used near the machinery? Or, with the matching pieces having been stitched together, perhaps a bag that held scraps, or tools, or something?

[Friday]

An apron, the tabs are the remainder of the waist tie?

[figheadair]

An apron, the tabs are the remainder of the waist tie?

Nope.

[figheadair]

That's quite a lot of thinking. So,

Was this done with Wilson's colours? This might be a bit of a stretch, but you said this was purchased in St. Fillans, which is not too terribly far up the road from Bannockburn. And from the (very little) I have read of your past mentions of "Wilson's colours", it seems like it might be. So my guess would be that it was woven by the Wilsons of Bannockburn.

It's not Wilsons' colours and the relative proximity to Bannockburn has no bearing as Wilsons sold throughout the country and later across the world. Also, there's something about the piece that should lead you away from that train of thought.

Furthermore, given the fact that there are many repairs on the fabric, done with identical thread, it looks like the person who did the repairs would have had access to the same thread from the mill (or perhaps they just robbed thread from other scraps of the same cloth, I dunno). Re-weaving all those repair holes might show that the person who did it had experience in such a thing, and perhaps worked at a mill. Or, I could be wrong, and repairing cloth was a common skill in those days.

See the bold emphasis.

But since you gave us a clue to think about "making clothing" or something similar, I wonder if this piece of tartan fabric was perhaps used by a person who worked at the mill. I can't imagine what it would have been used for, as I don't know much about the weaving process or what else goes on there. But some of the clues mentioned seem to fit together enough that it seems possible that this fabric had something to do with a tartan mill or weaver's daily work. Considering the damage, maybe it was a rag used near the machinery? Or, with the matching pieces having been stitched together, perhaps a bag that held scraps, or tools, or something?

No, no. I said clothing i.e. clothes and not cloth.

[figheadair]

If these headings are used and one doesn't speculate what do we know?

As this is the last TOM let me return to the basics as a reminder. When encountering any artefact try and avoid speculation and ask yourself:

What - is it now, and in the case of tartan has it been altered or its use changed? (this is the crux and should include all the visual clues such as setting, weave, colours etc).

Where - is it and does this have a bearing on its origins?

When - does it date to?

Who - owned it or what else is known about it?

The gaps in what you can determine will be the basis of your questions for further investigation.