tartan weaver - X Marks the Scot

starrelectrician · #1 07-26-2009, 03:51 PM

I have a tartan i have designed using an online interactive weaver. What i am curious about is finding someone who can weave it for me. any suggestions would be appreciated

paulhenry · #2 07-26-2009, 04:09 PM

What you have created is essentially a "thread count" so any weaver in theory would be able to reproduce it.... however it is often a bit more complicated that, some tartan design programmes expect you to use their weavers.If you are sure that it is a design you like and that it works as a tartan, there are lots of complications in actually designing a tartan that works well from a kilt point of view, some existing tartans really don't work well from a kilt makers point of view, so you need to consider that as well

The Wizard of BC · #3 07-26-2009, 04:59 PM

Matt, Barb T., Rocky and I use D.C. Dalglish in Selkirk, Scotland when we need a special weave of fabric done.

Dalglish will, for a price, weave a single 8 yard length of single width fabric of any Tartan you can supply the thread count for.

Most other weavers will weave your fabric for you but many have a minimum yardage requirement of about 16 yards double width or enough fabric for four Kilts.

If you have not talked to a Kiltmaker about your Tartan I would suggest you do so. A Kiltmaker looks at the Tartan pattern differently than a designer.
You probably were most concerned with colors and their meaning. You may not have looked at Sett size or the symmetry of your Tartan which makes a big difference to a Kiltmaker.

M. A. C. Newsome · #4 07-26-2009, 08:11 PM

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/custom.htm

Just give us a call.

Fit2BKilted · #5 07-26-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

Matt, Barb T., Rocky and I use D.C. Dalglish in Selkirk, Scotland when we need a special weave of fabric done.

Dalglish will, for a price, weave a single 8 yard length of single width fabric of any Tartan you can supply the thread count for.

As you may have seen in my Fraser & Kirkbright thread, I have also tried to contact D.C. Dalglish (and Sons?) and have similarly been ignored... That's 0 for 2 responses from recommended tartan weavers that I've attempted to contact by email...

The Wizard of BC · #6 07-26-2009, 11:20 PM

May I suggest that you contact Matt at the address above or myself directly.
We have track records with the weavers, know how to contact them, and are more than willing to offer this service.

Fit2BKilted · #7 07-27-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

May I suggest that you contact Matt at the address above or myself directly.
We have track records with the weavers, know how to contact them, and are more than willing to offer this service.

I had been hoping to accomplish the task without resorting to middle-men (presuming that engaging any would add to the cost).

paulhenry · #8 07-27-2009, 09:16 AM

There are many of here with access to tartan weavers, and yes I suppose you could call us middlemen, but I would just make a little point that many of us don't make much out of supplying tartan, I know I don't, but offer it as a starting point for other things, e.g. kiltmaking.... and sometimes it takes many calls/letters/emails to ensure that everything is correct/ so sometimes that effort or experience is worth paying a little for.....

Fit2BKilted · #9 08-02-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulhenry

There are many of here with access to tartan weavers, and yes I suppose you could call us middlemen, but I would just make a little point that many of us don't make much out of supplying tartan, I know I don't, but offer it as a starting point for other things, e.g. kiltmaking.... and sometimes it takes many calls/letters/emails to ensure that everything is correct/ so sometimes that effort or experience is worth paying a little for.....

Then I suppose the real question I should be asking of all of you who regularly deal with the mills, then, is: What kind of mark-up do you have in mind? Would you do it for a flat-rate, or based on the amount of fabric ordered; and, what would it be?

piperdbh · #10 08-03-2009, 09:03 PM

If you want a small sample piece woven to see if you really like it, I'd suggest contacting your local yarn shop or arts council/guild. They'll know a hand weaver who would probably be willing to weave a sample for you. If tartan is like other creative endeavors, it probably looks different "in the flesh" from the way it looks on your computer screen.