Ladies and Gentlemen, and especially those who did not get in on the last order of 16-oz X Marks tartan:

I just took delivery of 3 yards of the damaged tartan from Fraser and Kirkbright. This is really nice fabric, folks! Gordon sent me a 6 yard x 30-inch piece, because Steve had cut some of the cloth to assess whether it could be sent out to those willing to take it. Yes, the selvedge is damaged, but on the length I got the damage was restricted to about one inch or less from the edge. My untrained and non-professional eye couldn't see the stressing or distortion reported by Steve, or it may have been more apparent in part of the run I didn't get. I honestly think a good kilt could be made of this, if you flipped it on end, putting the selvedge at the waist side, cut the waistband material from the already cut edge, and hemmed the cut edge, which I think is very doable. I have no doubt that it would make a dynamite mini-kilt (Dirka, F-H C.A.G., are you listening? Especially you Star, after watching you painstakingly piece together remnants to make the mini you have so diligently documented).

If I didn't already have 4 yards on order through Steve, I'd think seriously about getting a 4-yard box or 5-yard knife-pleat made up. I might do it anyway, but I have other plans for at least some of this cloth.

If you wanted it for a kilt I'm sure Gordon would look for the best available lengths. When I ordered mine he made sure via email that I understood the cloth was damaged before he would ship it out. That level of customer service is to be honored and supported, so I echo Steve's previous entreaty; If you have an inkling you might want some of this Tartan, order early to get the best stuff, and help Gordon recoup some of his absorbed costs on this unfortunate situation.