U. S. Air Force tartan now available in medium weight.

**mookien** · 2nd October 12, 10:51 PM

Gentlefolk: Some of you will undoubtedly know, but I just discovered that the Strathmore Woollen Company now weaves their "US Air Force (Not Official)" tartan in medium weight cloth, what they label as their W60 cloth. The tartan may be viewed at

http://www.strathmorewoollen.co.uk/m...&cat=10&page=6

In the past (recent past, anyway) they have only provided this tartan in their lightweight cloth.

Also, they have some new district tartans that to me are simply stunning in design. The best places I have found to view them (so far) are on the Bletherskite web page at

http://www.bletherskite.net/2011/06/...om-strathmore/

or via the Scottish Tartans Authority's "Tartan Ferret" at

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tartan-ferret/

I obtained swatches of these tartans and, as is usually the case, none of the "pictures" does the actual cloth sufficient justice.

My favorite (by a hair) is the Strathtummel.

John

**sailortats** · 3rd October 12, 06:43 AM

I checked out the bletherskite site. Those new tartans are very nice indeed. The two that I like equally well are the Strathmore and the Strathtummel.

**seanachie** · 3rd October 12, 10:48 PM

Thank you for this information. I can not act on this now, but I do want a USAF tartan kilt eventually.

**David Thorpe** · 4th October 12, 03:49 AM

Strathmore does direct online retail business through their website. The prices are very reasonable and the service is very good. I purchased 4 meters of MacTavish Modern 11 oz. from them a couple of months ago and it was delivered in less than two weeks.

**mookien** · 5th October 12, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by sailortats

I checked out the bletherskite site. Those new tartans are very nice indeed. The two that I like equally well are the Strathmore and the Strathtummel.

The Strathmore was my 2nd choice "by a hair".

The only reason I preferred the Strattummel was it has purple in it (actually, lilac and blue), and I don't have a purple-themed kilt ..., yet.

**sailortats** · 5th October 12, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by mookien

The Strathmore was my 2nd choice "by a hair".

The only reason I preferred the Strattummel was it has purple in it (actually, lilac and blue), and I don't have a purple-themed kilt ..., yet.

I understand completely. I am hoping to have Mac make me a 4 yd box pleat kilt in the Scotland Forever tartan as I don't have a purple or blue kilt yet myself. I might reconsider after seeing the Strathtummel though.

**Mike_Oettle** · 7th October 12, 08:39 AM

All five of those “Strath” tartans are beautiful.
While I do like blue and purple setts, my eye is especially drawn to the Strathdon, Strathmore and Strathtay designs, with their brave reds.
Something else to put on a want list . . .
Regards,
Mike

**mookien** · 8th October 12, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by sailortats

I understand completely. I am hoping to have Mac make me a 4 yd box pleat kilt in the Scotland Forever tartan as I don't have a purple or blue kilt yet myself. I might reconsider after seeing the Strathtummel though.

Wow! That Scotland Forever is a great "purple" tartan, too. I can see why you like it so much. To me it is bolder - more like the Strathisla than the Strathtummel. Decisions, decisions, .... good luck on yours. I'll look forward to seeing your box pleat kilt, which ever tartan you settle on.

**mookien** · 9th October 12, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

All five of those “Strath” tartans are beautiful.
While I do like blue and purple setts, my eye is especially drawn to the Strathdon, Strathmore and Strathtay designs, with their brave reds.
Something else to put on a want list . . .
Regards,
Mike

Mike: When I first looked at these designs on Bletherskite, I too favored the Strathdon. I love its use of bold coloring, especially the red.

Later, after I got the swatches and had lived with them for a while, I was drawn to the Strathmore and Strathtummel, mostly because the colors seem to change as your eye scans any particular band - a rather "peculiar" phenomena I cannot explain, but enjoy experiencing. Maybe it's all in my head.

I realize that as a band crosses orthogonal bands of different colors the band indeed changes color due to blending, but this is different - more dynamic in some way. I have looked for it in other tartans, but have yet to see it. I'm sure I will sometime.

As I wrote above, I settled on the Strathtummel, mostly because of the purple/heather hues that I currently do not have in a kilt. Maybe in the future ...

John