Dooley Tartan?

**Captain** · 27th August 07, 12:47 PM

Okay, due to everyone else making tartans online and the very cool tartan generator some of you linked to here, I have decided to try my hand at a tartan for my family. I took (as a basis) the pattern of the Cian tartan as that would be our clan tartan, and completely redid the colors with colors more to my family's liking... we're big on earth-tones and orange... with a few who really like blue... Anyway, here's what I came up with. What are your honest opinions? I've never done something like this, so be brutally honest... would it work? Would you wear it? What would you change?

**slohairt** · 27th August 07, 12:55 PM

I like it. It's very Autumn-looking. Reminds a little bit of the Ulster tartan.

**James MacMillan** · 27th August 07, 01:03 PM

OK - I have no brown tartans. I don't think that I would buy this.

I have a MacMillan Tank, that I seldom wear, cause, I just don't like it.

With the right color shirt, brown hose, brown belt and sporran, and bone handeled skean, I think it would look nice.

I like it!

Having said that - How about adding a vivid red or green to accent the brown?

Just how much would it cost to get your own tartan made? What would the minimum run be?

We have our own X-Marks tartan - so someone should know.

**Peter C.** · 27th August 07, 01:49 PM

I will not comment on the colours because you have chosen colours you like so they are perfect for you.

The pattern of the tartan is too busy for me.

I would remove the thin white and dark (not sure of the colour) lines which run right through the center of the pattern, then it would be purfect for me.

Peter

**davedove** · 28th August 07, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

Just how much would it cost to get your own tartan made? What would the minimum run be?

We have our own X-Marks tartan - so someone should know.

Anyone can design a tartan. There are many software packages to assist with this.

Now, to get that tartan officially registered, it will take a bit of time and money.

Matt Newsome will do this. He worked with me to design my new Dove tartan:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=30139

Matt's website is:
http://www.albanach.org/

**Bryan** · 27th August 07, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by slohairt

Reminds a little bit of the Ulster tartan.

I thought the very same thing!

I agree with James, maybe a "vivid" blue line would look nice.

**Peter C.** · 28th August 07, 07:51 AM

It is not a fashion tartan. Fashion tartans are designed to look pretty so that they will sell like all other fashion items.

It is possible to have a personal tartan registered. And you have designed this one for your family, so it will be your family tartan, nothing to do with the clans other than the inspiration for the basic pattern.

This is your family of todays tartan. You must feel a much stronger connection to this than to a tartan which only represents a part of your ancestry, or the place where they lived.

I love it. You go for it.

Peter

**macwilkin** · 28th August 07, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Peter C.

This is your family of todays tartan. You must feel a much stronger connection to this than to a tartan which only represents a part of your ancestry, or the place where they lived.

No disrespect to Captain, but I think many of us who wear clan and/or district tartans feel a strong connection to our ancestors; I know for myself, I certainly do when I wear my clan tartan, as well as when I wear my Iowa tartan, since my Scottish ancestors immigrated there.

I don't think it's a competition between the older tartans and the newer ones as to which type has the stronger connection. It's all a matter of how the individual feels.

Regards,

Todd

**Bryan** · 28th August 07, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

...I think many of us who wear clan and/or district tartans feel a strong connection to our ancestors...

That may be true, but I would hope you feel more of a "connection" to your immediate family members than those that have been gone for centuries.

**Captain** · 28th August 07, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

No disrespect to Captain, but I think many of us who wear clan and/or district tartans feel a strong connection to our ancestors; I know for myself, I certainly do when I wear my clan tartan, as well as when I wear my Iowa tartan, since my Scottish ancestors immigrated there.

I don't think it's a competition between the older tartans and the newer ones as to which type has the stronger connection. It's all a matter of how the individual feels.

Oh it's not a competition at all, and I feel a great connection to my ancestors, which I'm guessing will be a lot stronger once I have my kilt in the Cian tartan to wear around (which is currently on order with Matt Newsome). I don't want to take away from sense of pride or connection for me or any one else... my words last night came from frustration and may have seemed overly harsh on the Clan system in general, which was not my intent... I was merely trying to point out that the connection to my immediate family is much stronger and that I would like to have a tartan to connect to them.