Lochcarron -

[figheadair]

Lochcarron are about to launch a new range of Strome British Wool Kilt Cloth. They are currently doing a special for me and I have been very impressed with their attention to detail from shade matching to working to my setting, including a herringbone selvedge.

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[Padraicog]

Lochcarron are about to launch a new range of Strome British Wool Kilt Cloth.

It's not clear how it differs from previous versions of the Strome weave

[figheadair]

It's not clear how it differs from previous versions of the Strome weave

Scottish wool, woven on their older type looms meaning that cloth has a selvedge. Oh and using Scottish wool as opposed to imported NZ wool.

[Jock Scot]

Scottish wool, woven on their older type looms meaning that cloth has a selvedge. Oh and using Scottish wool as opposed to imported NZ wool.

I might be accused of splitting hairs here, but might it be more accurate to say that British wool is being used? Nevertheless, a really worthwhile project and I wish it every success.

[figheadair]

I might be accused of splitting hairs here, but might it be more accurate to say that British wool is being used? Nevertheless, a really worthwhile project and I wish it every success.

A hair well split - British wool it is.

[Troglodyte]

I have a sample swatch of Lochcarron Strome single width kilting from 15 or so years ago, and, as chance would have it, I find myself potentially in the market for buying a kilt length. This old swatch seems to be a superior material to the current standard double-width Strome, hence my interest.

My enquiries to Lochcarron have been met with very helpful responses from Lochcarron, with the offer of weaving a superb-sounding cloth with a herring-bone selvedge, as mentioned in the previous post.

As always, there is a downside - cost..! I would need to commission a 60metre length at £88 per metre - which would make for a very expensive kilt, and rather a lot of left-over material.

I guess what I need is to find a jobbing weaver whose operational methods would make weaving a kilt length worth their while - anyone have any reccommendations..?

[jhockin]

I have a sample swatch of Lochcarron Strome single width kilting from 15 or so years ago, and, as chance would have it, I find myself potentially in the market for buying a kilt length. This old swatch seems to be a superior material to the current standard double-width Strome, hence my interest.

My enquiries to Lochcarron have been met with very helpful responses from Lochcarron, with the offer of weaving a superb-sounding cloth with a herring-bone selvedge, as mentioned in the previous post.

As always, there is a downside - cost..! I would need to commission a 60metre length at £88 per metre - which would make for a very expensive kilt, and rather a lot of left-over material.

I guess what I need is to find a jobbing weaver whose operational methods would make weaving a kilt length worth their while - anyone have any reccommendations..?

- or maybe you could find enough other people that would buy the cloth you don’t want. ( I did that years ago, when I needed to order a minimum of 30 meters).

[figheadair]

I have a sample swatch of Lochcarron Strome single width kilting from 15 or so years ago, and, as chance would have it, I find myself potentially in the market for buying a kilt length. This old swatch seems to be a superior material to the current standard double-width Strome, hence my interest.

The handle of this new cloth is much nicer their standard double-width. It's coarser and much closer to their older material. Looking forward to having this made up.

[Troglodyte]

The handle of this new cloth is much nicer their standard double-width. It's coarser and much closer to their older material. Looking forward to having this made up.

Do you know why Lochcarron abandoned their old single-width range?

What (if any, as I cannot really see how there could be) are the advantages of a tuck-in selvedge over a traditional 'kilting' selvedge?

Both Lochcarron and Marton Mills standard cloths seem to be tuck-in, whilst other commercial tartan weavers warn that a sewn hem will be required on a kilt made from their cloth, as it has no selvedge.

Marton Mills' cloth has quite a crude finished edge, from what I have seen.

[figheadair]

Do you know why Lochcarron abandoned their old single-width range?

I imagine it's because the Hattersley looms were too slow, required too much manual input and were geeting too expensive to maintain.

What (if any, as I cannot really see how there could be) are the advantages of a tuck-in selvedge over a traditional 'kilting' selvedge?

Both Lochcarron and Marton Mills standard cloths seem to be tuck-in, whilst other commercial tartan weavers warn that a sewn hem will be required on a kilt made from their cloth, as it has no selvedge.

A 'tuck-in selvedge' is a misnomer IMO. No benefit beyond profit. The move to a Tuck Edge was all about speed and thus, cost effeciency. I dislike the tuck-in line (about a half an inch from the edge) that seems to be a feature of so much of this cloth.

From an historical perspective, a Tuck-in edge looses the ability to include a selvedge mark or selvedge pattern.

Marton Mills' cloth has quite a crude finished edge, from what I have seen.

They also weave with a Tuck Edge finish.