Help Me Choose a Tartan!

**wildrover** · 15th February 10, 04:58 PM

Just a guess, but he's probably saying Muir because of the family connection you mentioned earlier.

Two things occurred to me as I perused this thread (it's interesting to see someone's thought process as they choose a tartan for their first kilt!)...first, be careful you don't create artificial boundaries as a means to narrow your choice of tartans

. That would not have occurred to me, had I not found this forum...and I too chose a tartan with a family connection. If not for that connection...well, the XMarks tartan is killer, and the CO tartan is a clear winner as well (I jones for one of each

!).

Second...if you're anything at all like the rest of us kilted rabble, this won't be your first kilt...so don't spend too much time on your choices, just plan to get a tank of each

.

-Sean

**guitarmatt** · 16th February 10, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by wildrover

Two things occurred to me as I perused this thread (it's interesting to see someone's thought process as they choose a tartan for their first kilt!)...first, be careful you don't create artificial boundaries as a means to narrow your choice of tartans

.

I do want to be carefull about showing clan affiliation with the tartan I choose, probably in part because my wife is looking for jobs in the highlands and islands, so we may end up living somewhere where tartan is viewed more seriously as a family identifier. I think I'll choose the California tartan because I was raised there, and because of it's similarity to the Muir tartan.

My Scottish ancestors came from Forres, which holds an annual highland games. I think we'll try to make it up for them this year and maybe see first hand what my relations are wearing.

**OC Richard** · 16th February 10, 02:30 AM

I'm in the process of deciding on a tartan for my next kilt, and rather than going with any of the many tartans that connect with my family history, I'm simply looking for a tartan that I really like the look of.

Here's Isle of Skye, in two ways of pleating:

and Spirit of Scotland Ancient. I just saw a swatch of this recently and the colours are fantastic:

I also like Spirit of Bannockburn

and Pride of Scotland, both modern and ancient colours:

**guitarmatt** · 16th February 10, 04:03 AM

I know several Scots with no family tartan who chose Pride of Scotland.

**wildrover** · 16th February 10, 09:10 AM

Man, that Pride of Scotland tartan really jumps out!

What's CA tartan look like?

**guitarmatt** · 16th February 10, 09:35 AM

There's a whole line of Pride of Scotland tartans, they're a relatively recent fashion thing. See here: http://www.pride-of-scotland.co.uk/thecollection/ The tartans are restricted and can only be purchased through McCalls, as far as I know, and therefore carry a bit of a premium.

Check out the link in this thread for the CA tartan: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/b...tml#post854340

**n5rmj** · 24th February 10, 02:08 PM

It sounds to me like the most meaningful option is to use a district tartan from the City of Edinburgh itself or one of the surrounding districts where you feel the greatest connections and comfort. While blood ties are important, most families were not clans themselves but fell under the protection of a chief and adopted his tartan or a district tartan. While there is some debate, bordering on religious disputes, on the subject of Celtic identity, I certainly believe that Celtic heritage and clan links are more about the feelings of connections and family than actual genetic or blood ties. You seem to be more tied to the land than to a chief, if so, then take the district tartan route. If you build a connection with a chief or with folks in a clan society, then it might be better to take a tartan associated with that chief or clan.

**OC Richard** · 26th February 10, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by wildrover

Man, that Pride of Scotland tartan really jumps out!

What's CA tartan look like?

California tartan?

Go to the website of The Pasadena Scottish pipe band, the Pasadena Scots, who wear it, for many nice photos of their recent trip to Scotland.

Their kilts were all made by their Pipe Major, Jennifer Febre.

You'll see how nicely the pleating is done, how nice the rear of the kilts look.

Not many bands have the luxury of a kiltmaker in the band! It's one of the few bands you'll see where all the kilts fit right.

(By the way, I just noticed in that photo of the rear of the kilt in Spirit Of Scotland Ancient, that the sett isn't centred on the back of the kilt! It's obvious because of the placing of the belt loops... yet more reasons for bands especially to go with "military pleating" and no loops.)

**guitarmatt** · 27th February 10, 12:31 AM

That's a sharp looking band! They sound great too. I've been leaning towards CA modern, but I really like how the colours in the standard CA seem to mirror the colours of the outdoors in California.