Scottish Tartans Patterns
Tartan design acquired a national significance not only in Scotland but universally, it’s made up of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands or threads of colors whose variations are symbolic of the various different clans that have historically made up for the Scottish people. The colors and the specific pattern of the bands are usually associated with a particular Scottish clan or family, and the scottish tartans is an important part of Scottish culture and history.
Tartan patterns are often made from wool, and they are typically associated with Scottish garments such as traditional kilt. However, tartan patterns can also be found on a variety of other items, including blankets, scarves, trews, fly plaids, skirts, and even handbags.
History Of the Tartan
The history of tartan patterns can be traced back to the ancient Celts, who lived in what is now Scotland, Ireland, and parts of Northern Europe. The Celts were skilled weavers and used wool to create a variety of garments and textiles. The first tartan patterns were likely created by the Celts as a way to distinguish different clans and families.
Over time, tartan patterns became associated with the Scottish Highlands and the clans that lived there. Each clan had its own unique tartan pattern, which was used to make garments and other items. The tartan pattern became a symbol of pride and identity for the clans, and it continues to be an important part of Scottish culture today.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, tartan patterns became popular outside of Scotland as well. During this time, the British military used tartan patterns as a way to distinguish different regiments, and the patterns became fashionable among the British aristocracy. Today, tartan patterns can be found all over the world and are used in a variety of design applications, including fashion, home decor, and even corporate branding.
Despite its popularity, the tartan pattern is still an important part of Scottish culture and history. The Scottish Register of Tartan, which was established in 2009, is a database of over 8,500 registered tartan patterns. The database includes information about the history and meaning of each tartan pattern, and it is used to protect the intellectual property of the clans and families that own the rights to particular patterns.
When I talked to people that are unfamiliar with the colour variations available for a given pattern someone told that; ‘The Scottish Tartan Patterns is split into Five types which are, the “ancient“, “modern”, “dress“, “muted”, “hunting“, “weathered” when actually they’re all one and therefore the same tartan!
MODERN, ANCIENT, HUNTING, WEATHERED, MUTED..
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
ANCIENT TARTAN
In Ancient Tartan it’s lighter and softer shades that are more easily seen like greens and blues are smooth & red appears more orange.
MODERN TARTAN
Modern Tartan are darker, bolder and more during a vivid shade. Ancient and Modern designs tend to share an equivalent sett but the reds are bolder, blues appear navy, and greens are greener.
Dress Tartan
Dress tartans are based on the earasaid tartans worn by Highland women in the 17th and 18th centuries.[n] Dress tartans tend to be made by replacing a prominent colour with the colour white. They are commonly used today in Highland dancing.
MUTED TARTAN
Muted Tartan is slightly different from Modern, for instance in Muted green colour looks more like green. Colours utilized in tartan have a selected meaning and it’s purely a contemporary one.
WEATHERED TARTAN
The main difference with the reproduction shades of Weathered Tartan is that the blues become slate blue, black a less intense charcoal black, red a deeper shade and green a sort of kakhi. Men wear kilts day and night to shield themselves from harsh weather conditions.
HUNTING TARTAN
Hunting Tartan was traditionally worn during hunting and these colours are most likely to find in nature. These are almost in greens and browns and they are the strongest colours here. For example MacLean Tartan is a red tartan, so a hunting tartan would have been needed to blend in more with the greens of the woodlands.
WHAT IS TARTAN PLAID
As describing the Tartan – Plaid is additionally commonly used word for Tartan which suggests that it’s made up of a cloth with a tartan pattern. Both contain horizontal and vertical stripes that intersect each other at a 90° angle, forming grid-like patterns across the textile.
Plaid kilts are kilts made from plaid fabric, which is a patterned fabric that consists of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Plaid is similar to tartan, but it is not limited to the specific patterns and colors associated with Scottish clans. Plaid kilt can be worn for a variety of occasions, including formal events, weddings, and traditional Scottish events.
Plaid Tartans are very smiliar patterns which aren’t very easy to spot. However, this is often where it gets a touch bit complicated because all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans.
Today, if we see the tartan and “clan tartan” it is a crucial part of a Scottish clan. Most Scottish clans will have many different tartans correlated which can be created and added to the list of clan tartans, but they must be approved by the clan chief, and the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and then finally the Advisory Committee on Tartan.
CLAN TARTANS
Moreover, many plaid fabric have been developed for Individuals, Families, Districts, Universal and Regiments. In which, tartan for Individuals refer to the people who are linked with one’s family background and are worn by the clan’s members as their benefactors. If someone features a Scottish surname then there’s probably a tartan related to this name too as an example, Royal Stewart Tartan is strictly connected to the royalty which may be a very large sett and it’s divided by four which explains the odd-numbered that thread counts where blue bordering the red blocks is usually shown as azure.
DISTRICTS , REGIMENTAL TARTANS
Where in Districts Tartan it’s named after the actual geographic area which may be a symbol of nations, cities, provinces, states or maybe small towns. These sorts of tartans are usually worn by those that feel a private connection to the world that the tartan represents like sutherland kilt during which it features a deep forest green color that covers most of it, lining within the darker green, during which grassy green color is to offer it emphasis.
Regimental Tartan is generally military tartans, however, these are affiliated with a selected regiment, and really, for instance, the night watch tartan which consists of two colors: stark black and a deep forest green shade. These colors run alongside one another in traditional tartan style only, veterans or currently serving members of that regiment should wear these then there are even regional tartans that are officially recognized by governmental entities.
CORPORATION, UNIVERSAL TARTAN
Corporation Tartan belongs to a selected company, organization or group of individuals that gathered around particular interests means these tartans are worn only by employees or group members during which weaving of the tartan is generally restricted to company approved weavers only. And in Universal Tartan it’s intended for people with a link to Scotland, who wish to wear tartan but can’t identify their clans or the districts where their ancestors lived in.
Tartan Colors
Colours used in tartan have a specific meaning and it is purely a modern one. The tartan colors were extracted mainly from dye produced by the plants, roots, berries and trees local to a specific geographic area. The pattern bisect horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours.
There are many different tartan colors, each with its own unique colors and design. The colors used in tartan fabric can vary widely, but common colors include red, green, blue, yellow, and black. Some tartans may also include white, purple, and brown. The specific colors and arrangements of the bands in a plaid fabric are often carefully chosen and have cultural or historical significance.
In addition to traditional tartan patterns, there are also modern tartans that feature a wider range of colors and patterns. These modern tartans may be more suitable for contemporary fashion or for people who do not have a specific Scottish clan association.
How to Knit Tartan Patterns
To knit a tartan patterns you’ll use a machine but you could certainly knit the bottom by hand. The thought was to use a mix of knitting & weaving in long threads to form up the pattern during a simple manner and also spend some leftover yarn. you’ll fall crazy with this awesome stitch that’s super pretty with bold, pastel, or neutral colors from this you’ll make plenty of different knitting projects, and that they will all have a really cool effect.
Looking to buy tartan fabric or custom made kilt ?
Struggling to find the perfect tartan for your kilt, just head over to scottish shop to get your ideal tartan fabric for any special corporate event or family gathering. All our tartan kilts are handmade and made to measure so actually, you can order any size and length. Our wide range of fabrics consists of over 1400+ authentic tartans are available.
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People also ask
To portray a crisscross pattern, the word plaid is frequently misused globally. Plaid and tartan are often used synonymously in North America. The word plaid can describe the best way to unravel and understand just about any crisscross pattern. Tartan fabrics should always have a crisscross sequence, typically irregular, and have a recognized name or history linking them with a Scottish clan.
What most people fail to understand is the difference between checks and plaids. If you want to understand what checks are, remember checkerboards! Checks are often symmetrical, composed of vertical and horizontal lines that are intertwined and create tiles of equal dimension. Therefore, though plaids produce a cross-hatched shape, checks imitate tiny frames.
Nowadays, due to its dramatic red color scheme, Royal Stewart is the most successfully created tartan. As a cloth worn by rock, pop, and glam rock artists, Stewart tartan has a significant status and recognition and is perhaps the most popular tartan globally.
Nearly every clan has at least one tartan assigned to its name, and the chief of the clan has created the tartans in several instances. As part of a clan’s identification, Highland dress and tartans are used, and nowadays, Scottish clan tartans are often utilized at Highland games or conventional Scottish weddings.
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