Tartan Creation

**cnovack** · 4th December 07, 03:35 PM

As someone of Irish/Polish descent, I do not have a clan or family tartan that I can truly call my own. The Irish side of my family hails from Galway so I suppose I could call the Galway "mine," as I could the Irish National.

However, the concept of having a clan or family tartan is one that I am truly interested in.

I know tartans have been created and registered by various people/entities.

Therefore, here goes...

How does one create a tartan?
When one creates a tartan, how does one know that they have not duplicated someone else's tartan?
How does one register a tartan so that it cannot be duplicated or used as something it is not?
How does one get the tartan weaved? Any suggested vendors?
I am guessing there are fees for all of this tartan designing and registration - any idea on a ballpark?

I know these are pretty broad questions. However, any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks very much!

**pipesndrumsnun** · 4th December 07, 03:50 PM

Check this out; it is very cool - the interactive tartan weaver. You can design your own tartan and have it woven:
http://houseoftartan.co.uk/interacti...ver/index.html

AND...Welcome from Flint, Michigan!!

**Ian.MacAllan** · 5th December 07, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by pipesndrumsnun

Check this out; it is very cool - the interactive tartan weaver. You can design your own tartan and have it woven:
http://houseoftartan.co.uk/interacti...ver/index.html . . .

This site unfortunately does not admit that its program is limited to setts of 15 stripes max. Of course, that limit is sufficient for a great many tartans but not e. g., Farquarson, which runs to 25 stripes. I have found three other tartan designers worth considering, but I admit I have not tested how many stripes each of them can accommodate:
http://www.tartanmaker.com/
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/...ogs/tartan.htm
http://www.weddslist.com/cgi-bin/tar...g.pl?source=rb

.

**gilmore** · 5th December 07, 01:14 PM

It's going to cost you around $1000 just to have the tartan designed and registered. Then there is the cost of the kilt, kilted skirts, plaids, etc, for something that most likely you would wear only a few times a year. If I were you I wold look for something already in existence, unless you have (1) quite a few people who are interested in sharing the expenses with you or (2) more money than you know what to do with.

**davedove** · 6th December 07, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by gilmore

It's going to cost you around $1000 just to have the tartan designed and registered. Then there is the cost of the kilt, kilted skirts, plaids, etc, for something that most likely you would wear only a few times a year. If I were you I wold look for something already in existence, unless you have (1) quite a few people who are interested in sharing the expenses with you or (2) more money than you know what to do with.

It is expensive, but a big part of that cost is weaving the cloth. It's certainly not for everyone, but there is a certain pride in being able to say "This is MY personal tartan."

**Monkey@Arms** · 4th December 07, 05:06 PM

You might want to check out the info here:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...signerpage.asp

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...nRecording.asp

I know Matt Newsome can help you design, record, and have kilts made from custom tartans, too. You'll find a discussion of the fees he charges on his website.

Best regards,

Jake

**Daaaaang** · 4th December 07, 07:10 PM

If you design a Polish tartan, you may want to look at a list of Polish flags for inspiration. I would use a lot of red and white, along with some yellow.

You might also add a dab of green or blue, but only if it looks weird without. Anyway, Wikipedia even provides the RGB colours you should use, so definitely check that out.

I am Scottish-Polish, so I'd definitely love a Polish kilt.

Regards,
Matt!

**davedove** · 5th December 07, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

I know Matt Newsome can help you design, record, and have kilts made from custom tartans, too. You'll find a discussion of the fees he charges on his website.

Matt recently help me design a Dove tartan. He will take your input and design several different designs for you until you get one you like. Then he will go through the process of getting it woven and registered for you.

Introducing the New Dove Tartan

**Aggie** · 5th December 07, 08:11 AM

The advantage of dealing with someone like Matt for this service is that you reduce your chances of being rejected for being too close to an existing tartan. I believe only woven submissions are considered and you don't want to spend a lot of money weaving rejections.

**auld argonian** · 5th December 07, 08:16 AM

Sounds like you have the same sort of ethnic goulash of a background that I have.

Chef pointed out the Polish Tartan that I read about a while back.

I would remind you, though, that the Polish/Scots connection goes back to none other than Bonnie Prince Charlie himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Stuart

...by virtue of his mommy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Klementyna_Sobieska

Toward the end of the Wikipedia article on BPC, you'll see that it has pretty much been concluded that the infamous Sobieski Stuart Brothers (who would, no doubt, be more than willing to whip up a tartan for you were they alive today) were, alas, not the true descendants of BPC. Another legend falls!

Best

AA