Looking for advice on ordering tartan

[Barb T]

clan.com sells tartan from many mills. The site does actually say enough about each tartan option to tell you who weaves the tartan if you know the following "code". If you click "More Info" for any tartan listing:

• Lochcarron weaves the ranges called Strome (16 oz), Braeriach (13 oz), and Reiver (10 oz)
• Marton Mills weaves the ranges called Jura (16 oz), Bute (13 oz), and Glamis (10.5 oz)
• Strathmore weaves the ranges called W60 (13 oz) and T7 (11 oz).
• House of Edgar does not have a fancy name for their standard medium weight range, but it is single width with a perfect kilting selvedge, so it's easy to tell (custom weaves are also single width, but they are a LOT more expensive)

House of Edgar, Strathmore, and Lochcarron all weave Modern Lindsay in 13 oz. The tartan from HoE is single width, and the tartan from Lochcarron and Strathmore is double width. Which did you order?

[Flyboy]

Barb,
since I ordered the 13 oz single width and with the info you have kindly given me I must deduce that the tartan must be from House of Edgar. Since the others only come in double and my 8 metre purchase was under £230, I think a custom weave would have been more expensive. At any rate the tartan is on its way and I’m glad of it.

I have been looking through the forum and been reading about your Kilt Camp and hope to attend next year, provided there’s space and the US/CAN border opens up by that point. I was planning on going to a kilt school in Keith, UK for 12 day introductory kilt making course earlier in the spring but alas the Covid 19 put a wrinkle in that plan.

Once again thank you very much for all your help it’s truly appreciated.

Dick Jones

[Barb T]

Hi Dick,

Yup - you have HoE tartan (8 yards of custom weave would have set you back more than twice that!). You will really like HoE tartan. The "hand" is really nice, and the selvedge is gorgeous. And because it's single width, you don't need to stress about a center back join.

We will definitely do Kilt Kamp next summer in Upstate New York. Where are you in Canada? The course is a bargain, and, once you know how to make a kilt, you can hone your skills on your own. And we have a LOT of fun. Crossing fingers the pandemic will be behind us.

Oh - just saw you're in Woodstock, Ontario. Not all that far from here!

My dad was Canadian and grew up in one of the inundation villages along the St. Lawrence just upstream from Cornwall.

Barb

[Flyboy]

Barb,

I’m pleased you feel that it’s a going to be a quality tartan, knitted self edged and no joining to boot! And hopefully the COVID will be far behind us, I work in the airline industry and I’m more and more doubtful about that one unfortunately But fingers crossed. You’re half Canadian, Then you’re from good people as my Grandmother Campbell would say! Once again thanks for your help.

Dick