Weathered tartan question

[creagdhubh]

I just wish that Lochcarron didn't produce green as brown in their weathered colours. The predominantly red based tartans work really well and blue looks great, but a green tartan like Henderson for instance is just not right when rendered as brown. I prefer House of Edgar and Marton Mills' muted shades where green is green.

I actually like an overall brownish hue, but with the green based tartans, I can see what you're getting at.

[Sir Didymous]

This whole question of weathered/ancient/heritage/reproduction colours is
one that is a potential source of confusion for a newby to the kilted world
who is trying to properly honour his Scottish heritage.

For example, I read the following on the Clan Gregor (Macgregor) website:

Clan Gregor website tartan page

and some comments from Matt Newsome about this page:


Finally, Matt replied to a question from me with these pictures of the
chief of clan MacGregor in an ancient tartan. (I'd read the Clan chief's
comments and interpreted them as meaning that only the modern
colours were acceptable.)

Matt's Comment and pictures

As my head is spinning about all of this, and I suspect that I may not
be alone in my confusion, could I respectfully suggest a FAQ about
tartan colour schemes, possibly including suggestions of where to
find some of the larger clan's thoughts on their tartans.

I'll shut up now -- this has probably been discussed to death and I
may well be the only one confused.

As I said, thanks for reading.

-Don

I was told on this forum quite a while back (I will try to find the thread for a link) that all of the color sets were intended to just give more of a variety to the clan tartans. That being said, they were all considered acceptable. On Heritage of Scotland they offer 13 "Ferguson" tartans. Only a couple of them are not usable for me Like the Ferguson of Balquhidder (ancient or modern) and I would be reluctant to wear the Ferguson the Astronomer simply because My branch of the clan doesn't seem to be from Balquhidder, and Ferguson the Astronomer seems to have been an early example of personal tartan, but it has no restriction.

[Skiballa]

Yes, the green to brown is an interesting look, kind of strange in my own clan's Ancient Campbell. I do find it pleasing to the eye, but hard to imagine a circumstance that would fade the blue to that slate blue softness but turn a green to a reddish-brown. I know the sett is the important consideration, but the character is too different. That being said, I'm still considering a box pleated kilt in the repro/weathered colors.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Yes, the green to brown is an interesting look, kind of strange in my own clan's Ancient Campbell. I do find it pleasing to the eye, but hard to imagine a circumstance that would fade the blue to that slate blue softness but turn a green to a reddish-brown. I know the sett is the important consideration, but the character is too different. That being said, I'm still considering a box pleated kilt in the repro/weathered colors.

You mean like this? :-)

Four yard box pleated kilt in Campbell weathered from Lochcarron.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

As my head is spinning about all of this, and I suspect that I may not
be alone in my confusion, could I respectfully suggest a FAQ about
tartan colour schemes, possibly including suggestions of where to
find some of the larger clan's thoughts on their tartans.
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How about this:
Tartan Colors - A Photo Essay
Tartan Terminology
Ancient Colors Revisited
Colors & Tartan

[Skiballa]

You mean like this? :-)

Four yard box pleated kilt in Campbell weathered from Lochcarron.

Yes Matt, just like that, I see what you did there.