Tartans by the yard

**Rex_Tremende** · 27th April 06, 04:36 PM

Esteemed advisors,

So far, I'm just a casual kilt wearer. I own two UKs, a NeoKilt (don't like so well) and a Sport Kilt "Boulder" arrived in the mail today (I'm in it now, in fact). I have one of Steve's Freedom kilts on order and another UK on the way. After reading some threads involving SWKs, I guess my next one will be in a saffron or black shadow tartan.

Someday, if I stop blowing my wad on casual kilts, I will get a 'tank' in MacGregor (mother's mother's mother was a McGregor, whose patriarchal lineage in the Colonies dates back to the 1740's - sorry, that's as close as I think it gets for me). Unfortunately, I'm not all that partial to red, or any of the variations that I've seen - I'm rather an earth-tones guy. (I really like Buchanan, too!) But I'll probably get one, just because. And it seems the logical next step.

However, after reading the thread on the ethics/offense of wearing a tartan outside one's claimed clans, I started looking at what other options I might have, if I want more than one tartan (I'm not addicted, am I?). The Ohio tartan has too much red-white-and-blue for my taste, so that's out.

So, I was searching the catalog of tartans at the Scottish Tartans Authority, and found a couple of custom tartans that I like and find some affiliation with.

OK, this is waaaay off (like maybe 2007), but how does one go about finding a supplier, or a mill, that is authorized to sell one of the custom tartans?

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

**way2fractious** · 27th April 06, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Rex_Tremende

...how does one go about finding a supplier, or a mill, that is authorized to sell one of the custom tartans?

Find a professional kiltmaker. They have those sources already lined up.

By the way, you can wear any tartan you fancy; just be informed of its significance and be respectful in telling others about it and why you wear it.

Also, ... what is a steamed advisor? Is that like what we do to wool pleats?

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 27th April 06, 06:14 PM

Unless it's copyright resticted or some such, I can get just about any tartan you want woven.
http://kilts.albanach.org/tartans.html

See, sometimes I do toot my own horn. :-)

**Kilted KT** · 27th April 06, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Unless it's copyright resticted or some such, I can get just about any tartan you want woven.
http://kilts.albanach.org/tartans.html

See, sometimes I do toot my own horn. :-)

nothing wrong with that at all...provided the horn is in tune.

**arrogcow** · 27th April 06, 08:28 PM

http://scottishkilts.net/ At a quick glance they have the following non-clan/non-district tartans :Braveheart (I have one of these),Auld Lang Syne, Old Langsyne (Grey), Irish American, Scot American, Warrior, Great Scot, and Gem. They also have a hunting MacGregor (a little more earth tone).

Adam

**Rex_Tremende** · 27th April 06, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Unless it's copyright resticted or some such, I can get just about any tartan you want woven.
http://kilts.albanach.org/tartans.html

See, sometimes I do toot my own horn. :-)

Oh! So you're the source of the Black MacGregor. I do like that one. Can it be shared?

Meanwhile, when I'm sufficiently obsessed over a custom weave, I'll be in touch. Thanks much.

Rex.

**Kilted KT** · 27th April 06, 08:30 PM

Tartan by the Yard...does that mean you found the last Tartan Tree on the planet! Which tartan does it grow, or does it change from season to season? If it does change, can you pick some MacTavish (Thompson Red) for me in the Autumn?

**Rex_Tremende** · 27th April 06, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by arrogcow

http://scottishkilts.net/ At a quick glance they have the following non-clan/non-district tartans :Braveheart (I have one of these),Auld Lang Syne, Old Langsyne (Grey), Irish American, Scot American, Warrior, Great Scot, and Gem. They also have a hunting MacGregor (a little more earth tone).

Adam

Hey, neighbor (we really should connect and say hello),

I must be missing something obvious, because I cannot find Braveheart, Warrier, Great Scot, Gem, and hunting MacGregor (though I have seen this one elsewhere) on the website.

Your suggestions are appreciated, nonetheless.

Regards,
Rex across the river.

**Caradoc** · 27th April 06, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Rex_Tremende

Unfortunately, I'm not all that partial to red, or any of the variations that I've seen - I'm rather an earth-tones guy.

I, too, like the "earth tones" in tartans. I'm very fond of the "Weathered Lochaber":

It's got some red in it, but it's not all that brilliant. It looks more like the "red" you'll see in autumn leaves in Vermont than, say, a scarlet tanager.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 28th April 06, 04:15 AM

Oh! So you're the source of the Black MacGregor. I do like that one. Can it be shared?

Yup, I'm the guilty one. My bud and I worked that out for a kilt for him. Like you, he is a MacGregor, but really doesn't like red tartans. He's a big fan of black, though, so I had that cloth woven for him with the red/black transposed.

He'd be thrilled to know someone else was interested in the tartan -- right now he's got the only kilt in the world in it, unless someone else over the past year has decided to weave some up that I don't know about. So you'd be kilt No. 2!

M