the most faded kilt ever??

[creagdhubh]

Yes, Kyle, me too (though mine is reproduction Colquhoun, plus a lot of extra yardage). I think you and I are two of the people who ordered reproduction tartan kilts from her at about the same time, and will be amongst the first to take advantage of DC Dalgliesh's new line of standard double-width cloth in this colour scheme. I've been taking daily anti-Jonesing pills in an attempt to stave off this dreaded symptom.

No offense, my friend, but I'm hoping mine comes before yours does!

Yes, I believe you are correct! Your new kilt will arrive before mine, Tobus, as I haven't instructed Barb to begin making mine yet. I have a few more pounds to lose, well 'extra baggage' that I know I will lose very quickly (one of the rather brief side effects of being a newlywed and having a wife that loves to cook!), so naturally my waist and seat size will change - more than likely to the precise size of many of my other kilts, but I do not want to take the change, so I am waiting until the spring to submit my kilt measurments to Barb. She kindly agreed with my unique request, and my D.C. Dalgliesh tartan is on standby with her, ready to be made into a fine kilt.

I am looking forward to seeing how your kilt turns out, especially with the new Colquhoun reproduction colour scheme (I think you and I share similiar preferences in regards to Highland attire, specifically Highland day attire, and are quite fond of 'earthy' tones in checks, hosiery, tweeds, and colour schemes). I will be doing the same with the Clan Chattan tartan, as presently, this particular sett has only been designed in the ancient and modern (standard) colourings, and not in the reproduction (weathered) colours. I plan to have a custom weave (late summer-fall 2012) of the Clan Chattan sett done in the reproduction colours from D.C. Dalgliesh - this will be the first of its kind as well!

Hang in there mate, and keep taking those anti-Jonesing pills! Lord knows I will need another prescription!

Best wishes,

[creagdhubh]

If Peter were online at the moment he would be able to explain to us exactly why in some of these older kilts the black dyes fade to this sort of greenish tan color. He's explained it before, but the reason escapes me now.

Just as a point of clarification, Dalgliesh's reproduction colors, which are the inspiration for other mill's weathered colors, are NOT an attempt to recreate the look of an old kilt faded with age and wear. They are instead inspired by old tartan specimens found buried in the earth for 200 years and so stained and faded in a completely different manner.

The so-called ancient colors, on the other hand, are supposed to represent what a kilt (such as this) would look like after years of natural aging. Or so the story goes.

http://www.albanach.org/terminology.html
and
http://www.albanach.org/anc_colors.html

Not that either is museum quality reproduction work. The best we can call them is mimicing the overall effect.

Quite right, Matt.

[davidlpope]

Settles some questions about the "weathered" tartans for me.
Looks like they just weave with weathered-looking colours that are closest to the original sett, instead of considering how the individual colours actually age.

Exactly.

I find that it's better to just think of the different color schemes as different palettes that tartans are commonly woven in. Some tartans are nicer looking in a particular color scheme, due to the amount of contrast between the major design elements. Most of the explanation behind the color schemes (ancient, weathered, reproduction, etc.) are frankly bunk.

Cordially,

David

[creagdhubh]

Exactly.

I find that it's better to just think of the different color schemes as different palettes that tartans are commonly woven in. Some tartans are nicer looking in a particular color scheme, due to the amount of contrast between the major design elements. Most of the explanation behind the color schemes (ancient, weathered, reproduction, etc.) are frankly bunk.

Cordially,

David

I agree.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Hmm... Gets a guy thinking. This summer, I may have to wait until there's a forecast of clear skies for a while, take some tartan out to the farm, and hang it in the sun for a couple of weeks. .

Beware of those horrid beasties... moths!

[Pleater]

The effect might be that of sunlight on wet wool - the kilt being worn in the rain or hung up after washing and the sun has a far greater effect that when the fabric is dry.

The water drains away downhill so the free edge gets the maximum effect and the waist edge the minimum.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: