asymmetric (non repeating) tartans

[Stewart Rendall]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if there's a comprehensive list of asymmetric (non repeating) tartans out there anywhere?

[pipesndrumsnun]

Buchanan is...I remember the discussion from a while back.
I'm sure the folks here will give you LOTS of other suggestions, though!

[Barb T]

These are the commonly available ones:

Buchanan, Hunting Buchanan (but not Dress or Old Buchanan), Campbell of Argyll, Dress Campbell, Drummond of Strathallen, MacAlpine, Dress MacDonald, Old Macmillan, Malcolm, Hunting Stewart, Ontario, Quebec, and Maple Leaf.

I'm sure there are other, less commonly available ones, but MOST tartans are symmetric, thankfully, because it can be a nightmare to make a kilt from asymmetric tartan unless you have a single-width piece.

Barb

[Stewart Rendall]

Thanks Barb.
That's very handy!

Anyone else have any more examples?

[Mr. MacDougall]

Black Watch in its full set is an ABAC tartan.

[Aggie]

I think some of the Welsh family tartans will qualify.

[Barb T]

Black Watch in its full set is an ABAC tartan.

The fact that it is ABAC does not make it asymmetric. The Black Watch is a symmetric tartan.

Barb

[The Wizard of BC]

The Tartans offered by The Wales Tartan Centre are not asymmetrical as much as not true Tartans. To be a Tartan the thread count should be the same horizontally and vertically. Some of these Tartans are symmetrical horizontally, some are not, but the vertical is totally different. It gives them a noticeable vertical element.
I will make my wife a hostess skirt from the Williams Tartan and I love the look and colors, but I knew it was not a "true" Tartan going in.

[fluter]

The Tartans offered by The Wales Tartan Centre are not asymmetrical as much as not true Tartans...
I will make my wife a hostess skirt from the Williams Tartan and I love the look and colors, but I knew it was not a "true" Tartan going in.

Williams of Wales is on my short list: I'd love to see how you pleat it. I'm wondering if it would work best as a 5-yard or 8-yard class kilt, should the stripe be in the reveal, etc. From a few tantalizing pictures, I believe the stripe is much narrower than some of the others like St. David's National.


I have another Welsh tartan on the list, but I believe that it has X-Y symmetry (i.e. is a "tartan").

[Mr. MacDougall]

The fact that it is ABAC does not make it asymmetric. The Black Watch is a symmetric tartan.

Perhaps I don't understand what symmetry means, as applied to tartan, then? I was under the impression that, to be symmetrical, it would have to be ABA, or ABCBA or something like that. Am I mistaken in my understanding?