Baird Tartan Pattern

[BairdTN]

Hello all,
As I was searching for Baird kilts I noticed that several sites have inexpensive Baird ancient kilts where the pattern of the purple stripes are 3 stripes of the same width where as all of the other Baird tartan I have ever seen both modern/ancient have the pattern of 1 thicker purple stripe with 2 thin stripes on either side. I guess my question is are the 3 stripes of equal size wrong? Or is this variation acceptable? I was under the impression that the thread count/width of stripes was pretty much not changeable (if that makes sense)? I will include some pics so that you can see the difference. Thanks!

[Steve Ashton]

The listing with The Scottish Register of Tartan, for the three Baird Tartans, show the stripes as unequal.

[figheadair]

They should be unequal. Of the three on the STR, the first and second are the same. I need to dig out a copy of Johnstons' book but IMO, it's just an interpretation of the colour of the stripes, where does purple end and red begin?

[AFS1970]

I can tell you that different mills will make very different tartans. When I bought my first kilt (Ancient Baird) it had the unequal stripes. Years later I decided to get a plaid to wear over my shoulder. I was told my a lot of folks that I would never get one that matched, but I foolishly believed that every mill would use the same pattern for the same tartan. The plaid came in and the thinner stripes are actually broken and almost a check pattern. To be fair nobody notices it other than me, but I always know I am mismatched.

[figheadair]

I can tell you that different mills will make very different tartans. When I bought my first kilt (Ancient Baird) it had the unequal stripes. Years later I decided to get a plaid to wear over my shoulder. I was told my a lot of folks that I would never get one that matched, but I foolishly believed that every mill would use the same pattern for the same tartan. The plaid came in and the thinner stripes are actually broken and almost a check pattern. To be fair nobody notices it other than me, but I always know I am mismatched.

It sounds like the thinner stripes are only 2 threads rather than 4+ which would give that broken appearance. A photo comparison would be interesting to see, plus the weight and source of the different materials.