Looking for tartan advice

[Butcher]

I am not of any sort of Scottish descent and am looking for a kilt. I figure the best way to find one is to ask those who know a lot about tartans for reccomondations, so a few things about me that I feel are significant.

My last name is Butcher.
I am of English, Swedish, Denmark and German descent.
I was raised in Pennsylvania (USA, this seems to be an international forum), I saw they have their own tartan.
I live in Ohio.
I was in the Army, not interested in the Army tartan.
I was in the infantry.
Specifically the 22nd Infantry Regiment, seriously doubt they have their own tartan.
I have the Combat Infantryman's Badge, if there was a CIB tartan that would be awesome.
My primary hobby is powerlifting.
A developing 2nd hobby is highland games, I wouldn't wear the SAAA tartan for the same reason I don't wear Hawian shirts.
I seem to think the tartans with dull green colors look best.
I keep wanting to type tarten, is there a tartan for people who do that?
Most of my family back a few generations and beyond were farmers.

If I think of anything else I will add it, thanks in advance for the advice.

[Chas]

I have no recommendations except to say that if you like it you can wear it.

This is a link to the Scottish Register of Tartans -

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index.aspx

Use the search function and see what has been registered.

A good starting point is Black Watch.

Regards

Chas

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I would agree that a good starting point is Black Watch tartan, both because it has a military origin, which you may find appealing given your own military career, and because it is a dark green tartan, which you may find appealing because of the color.

Another suggestion is Hunting Stewart, which is also a green tartan, and is considered a universal tartan for those with no clan connections.

The PA state tartan which you mentioned is also a green tartan, and incidentally is based on the Black Watch.

[sailortats]

Here is a pic of the Hunting Stewart in the ancient colors. I prefer it to the modern colors as the green is seen more easily. The modern colors seem quite dark to me.

[Riverkilt]

There are also tartans for all sorts of "causes" you may support. Browsing the tartan registers or googling the cause and adding the word tartan may find them. There are corporate tartans...Harley Davisdon, Drambuie, etc. Again browse or google.

I just got a Pennsylvania tartan from Rocky at USA Kilts. Here's a pic of it. It is a beautiful tartan, much prettier in person than on a screen.



Not sure if Rocky still has the fabric, but if he does, you can't go wrong with him and a beautiful state tartan would seem like a great place to start. People are gonna ask what tartan it is since its not a common tartan and they'll be intrigued, interested, continue the converstation after you tell them its the state tartan of Pennsylvania.

[freddie]

Great advice from ,The Rabble, as usual, which I cant add to. Just enjoy your kilt when you get it.

[ThistleDown]

Hunting Stewart as your first kilt. Easy to explain to those who ask: great colour combination and universal "clan" acceptance.

[OC Richard]

I just got a Pennsylvania tartan from Rocky at USA Kilts.

It's a nice tartan but I would prefer, for a man's kilt, for the sett size to be quite a bit larger. Does anybody weave Pennsylvania in a large sett size?

[Pleater]

The proper Black Watch is quite a large sett - it is sometimes seen in a truncated form, as though the maker got cold feet half way through the first sett and decided on something less difficult.

It has a weathered version - I think it is weathered, or perhaps ancient - where the colours are paler, which I like better than the rather dark standard colour-way, where the dark blue and dark green can be barely distinguished from the black. The version I prefer has clearer colours, but they are not at all Hawaiian. Perhaps it will resonate with your farming inheritance.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Levix0xx]

I'd like to tag along on this if I could. Like Butcher, I am not of Scottish descent despite wanting to be and have no Clan affiliation. In preparing for the purchase of my first kilt, I am torn between the Black Watch, Scottish National and Red Hackle Tartans. I know that the choice is personal but I want my "first" to be one that I can match with different colors of ties and hose and is not overly bright if that makes sense. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.