Looking for Douglas Weathered/Norway

[Dixiecat]

A highland dance friend is looking for two tartans. She started looking for the Norway tartan only to find that it was virtually non-existent in the textile form. She settled on Douglas Weathered because of the rich browns. She is having trouble from our local well-known kiltmaker/tartan supplier in finding this tartan. They're really not on the ball at all and not being very helpful (which mirrors my dealings with them exactly) and she is rapidly coming to the conclusion that they don't deserve her business. I was wondering if anyone here could point me (and her) in the direction of a kilt length of the Douglas Weathered and possibly a kiltmaker who could fit in a kilt before the Nova Scotia selection meet in April 2009.

(if anyone has a handle on a length of Norway tartan, they'd be the beneficiary of our eternal gratitude)

[chasem]

I don't know about readily-available material, but there are a few here (Barb T., Matt Newsome) who, I believe, could get special weaves of the Norway tartan. Couldn't tell you the price, personally.

[Tattoo Bradley]

If the kiltmaker can no get Weathered Douglas tartan, I would run far far away from them with my wallet in tow.

Lochcarron Strome

[Dixiecat]

It's not that the kiltmaker can't get the Douglas Weathered, it's that they're out-to-lunch and lazy to boot. She's told them what she wanted, either a kilt-length of Norway tartan or Douglas Weathered, they keep sending swatches that aren't the Douglas and only when pressed hard did they say that they would have to get a special weave done of the Douglas and charge lots more.

I've not been impressed with this very well-known kiltmaker since the time I was trying to get Christina Young tartan for my daughter's kilt.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

It's not that the kiltmaker can't get the Douglas Weathered, it's that they're out-to-lunch and lazy to boot. She's told them what she wanted, either a kilt-length of Norway tartan or Douglas Weathered, they keep sending swatches that aren't the Douglas and only when pressed hard did they say that they would have to get a special weave done of the Douglas and charge lots more.

I've not been impressed with this very well-known kiltmaker since the time I was trying to get Christina Young tartan for my daughter's kilt.

Douglas weathered is stocked by Lochcarron and would not require a special weave. If your local kiltmaker is not willing to help you, contact us at http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org

We can also have a single kilt length of the Norway tartan done up for you, if you prefer that one.

[Dixiecat]

Thanks Matt. I followed the link that Tattoo Bradley gave above and fired off an email to Burnetts and Struth the Canadian supplier about the Douglas Weathered. However, Norway tartan was my friends first choice. I've left her a message regarding your offer. What's a ball park figure on a special run like that? She's a tall girl with broad hips and would possibly be looking at 8 yds.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

For custom runs we charge $65/yd for 29" wide fabric. Minimum order is 4yds

[Dixiecat]

I've passed all the info along to my friend. Seems I made one teeeny, tiny mistake. It's actually Finland tartan, not Norway. My apologies. Is it still possible to make this tartan up?

[Dixiecat]

Just saw my friend at dance class last night. She's very excited that everything is coming together. Thanks to everyone who helped out with this. It's always a great thing to see a dancer's eyes sparkle when talking about their kilts.
It'll be some time before the outfit is complete, but I'll try to post a pic.

[Dixiecat]

Update:

My dance friend has just received her special weave of the Finland tartan.



She's sending it off to her kiltmaker today. Wow, such a sparkle in her eye. I'll try and post pics of the finished costume.