Tartans

Maple Leaf Tartan Kilt

I’ve always been intrigued by woven fabrcs and I am absolutely fascinated by tartans. My mother made kilts for my sister and I when we were young. I still have my Maple Leaf tartan kilt that she made during Canada’s centennial year. Tartans were originally woven from wool, but today they are made from a variety of fibres.

We usually think of Scotland when we think of the history of the tartan, and indeed regional tartans go back many hundreds of years in Scottish history. The oldest evidence of tartan in Scotland dates back to the 3rd century A.D. There is also archeological evidence of tartans being made and worn thousands of years ago in Central Europe, China and Scandinavia.

Tartans are made by weaving, at right angles, different colours of thread or yarn in predetermined patterns or setts. The ways in which the horizontal rows (weft) and vertical columns (warp) intersect produce a pattern that is unique to each sett. Where threads of the same colour pass each other, the colour will be its darkest.

In Scotland, tartans have been associated with clans since the beginning of the 19th century. Many clans have several tartans. In order for a tartan to be “official”, it must be recognized as such by the clan chief. It can then be registered with the Lord Lyon King of Arms and once approved, it is recorded in the Lyon Court Books.

Tartans are also associated with families, countries, businesses and individuals. Anyone can design a tartan. There is even an OUTLANDER: The Series tartan (see below). It is estimated that there are literally thousands of tartans around the world and new ones are being created every year. If you wanted, you could create a tartan!

Black Watch Weekender Bag
by Dunmore of Scotland

Royal Stewart and Black Watch are two of the most popular tartans worldwide. Royal Stewart is Queen Elizabeth II’s personal tartan. Black Watch was and continues to be used by the British army and Commonwealth armed forces. Black Watch is one of my personal favourites.

So is there a difference between tartan and plaid? The answer is yes! The sett of almost all tartans is identical on both axes. Tartans are geometrically symmetric and the fabric will look the same each time you rotate it 90°. Plaids have different patterns on the weft and warp. Confusion between the terms tartan and plaid may have arisen because of the Gaelic word plaide which means ‘blanket’. A plaide was a rectangular piece of tartan that was worn over the shoulder and held in place with a belt around the waist.

Tartans make reoccurring appearances in both fashion and home decor. If you have Scottish ancestry, you may have already researched your clan tartan, but Outlanders can enjoy tartans, too. A cushion made from tartan is a great accent piece. A tartan cape or shawl makes a lovely fashion statement. If you can make it with fabric, you can make it with tartan. So, why not add a wee bit o’ Scotland to your life? You never know what might happen...


🔍To return to the main page, please click on the banner at the top of this page or click on this link: Cupola Corner Blog

Outlander: The Series Tartan Scarves
at The Celtic Croft

Reference: "Tartan." Wikipedia, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan. Accessed 25 June 2018.