Last year as I was recovering from my heart failure I asked my friend Hamish if I might be permitted to wear his tartan. He kindly gave me his permission and over the course of the year eventually it was decided that a small batch of the Bicknell tartan would be run.
Our mutual friend Paul Henry found a small mill and visited and carefully worked with Ham to get exactly the colors he wanted for this second run. The colors are a bit more muted than the first one (of which Ham is the only possessor of a kilt in that tartan weaving).
After many months the tartan was woven and my kilt made it to the top of Paul's work list, and yesterday it arrived on my door.
I had it pleated to the stripe
I wore it to the San Jose Scottish Country Dance class that night with a bit of a modern flair that I knew would please both Paul and Ham
"Have dance ghilles, Will Travel"
The colors as you can see are just lovely and subtle and just perfect for brown accessories and highland daywear, so today I decided to dress up a bit before heading to my daughter's school where I volunteer and work.
WARNING THERE BE PEACOCKS AHEAD!
At by daughter's school in "full plumage"
Back shot
Action shot while reading a fun little book on the apostrophe to some kids at the school library
Ham's tartan is not a flashy tartan. It is lovely and subtle and I am very proud to wear it.
If anyone would like a review of Paul Henry's work I'll post a quick one and a couple of interior photos in a moment below. I do have one thing to note. This was a very special and limited run of the Bicknell tartan. Ham does not intend at this time to have another in the foreseeable future and I think he would greatly appreciate not being solicited for permissions or requests to have a part of the "next run". This is his personal tartan and if he should wish to make it available again he will initiate that process.
That said, next up a quick review!
Cheers
Jamie
PS: OOPS! As XMTS' resident tartan peacock I almost forgot to show the kilt pin I chose for Hamish's tartan!
here it is…
ith:
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