Seeking Robertsons who might also be bicyclists

[jsrnephdoc]

No, NOT because I'm trying to organize a "group ride" where we all kilt up and go regimental. Apologies for even raising that image in anyone's mind.

The pairing stems from a far different equation of nouns; i.e., the typical cyclist's response to the question "how many bikes do you really need?" commonly answered with "one more than I have." Substitute "kilts" for "bikes" and you'll increase the likelihood of finding people with my mindset.

I've been taking up space on this forum the past week or so imagining what it might be like to have a kilt in a Robertson Red variant that's not been woven for well over a century (listed in the Registry as Robertson Red (white line) and probably woven by Wilson's. I've actually found a possible source (Strathmore) willing to come close to its color palette in a custom weave 13 oz fabric, but their minimum bespoke weave would be 50–60 meters and hence very expensive for a guy whose list of candidates for fabric currently numbers no more than 3.

Elsewhere I've posted a picture or two of family members at a Pitlochry clan gathering that demonstrate my aversion to "ALL that RED" in the typical modern Red weave, and, as a reminder, I'll pair an "electronic swatch" of that (in 13 oz), from USA Kilts of fabric sourced from HoE, with a picture from the tartan registry of the "white line" variant.

Of course, there are all KINDS of issues related to imagining actual cloth based on jpeg images, especially when those images come from different sources, but I DO think the comparison makes my point about the effects of that narrow white stripe.

So, if you're a Robertson suffering from the cyclist's lament, or know someone who is, I'd be grateful if you'd point them to this post.

[geomick]

what about people who are neither Robertsons or bicyclists who think that would be a fantastic tartan for a kilt?

[Pleater]

There is a pipe band at the Sidmouth folk festival each year, they wear that tartan and very well they look. They were quite impressed that I could identify it too - but I've been going there 50 years now...

Anne the Pleater

[jsrnephdoc]

There is a pipe band at the Sidmouth folk festival each year, they wear that tartan and very well they look. They were quite impressed that I could identify it too - but I've been going there 50 years now...

Anne the Pleater

Anne, if you recognize Robertson Red (white line) as being worn by an entire BAND, then we need to talk, and SOON. So far as I've been told, it's not been woven for more than 100 years, and if a whole band wears it there must be relatively recent output from SOMEBODY's looms.

And, may I say that if you've been attending that festival for 50 years, your Avatar photo suggests that you could not have been more than a few minute old at your "first rodeo!"

[Pleater]

Oh the photo is from about the time of my first visit to Sidmouth. Only the grin is the same.

The band is The city of Exeter - I am prepared too be wrong about it being the same tartan but - well have a look at the photos on their website. There are a fair few of the band actually in Sidmouth - it looks very similar but there's nothing so variable as tartan.

Anne the Pleater

[jsrnephdoc]

Oh the photo is from about the time of my first visit to Sidmouth. Only the grin is the same.

The band is The city of Exeter - I am prepared too be wrong about it being the same tartan but - well have a look at the photos on their website. There are a fair few of the band actually in Sidmouth - it looks very similar but there's nothing so variable as tartan.

Anne the Pleater

Thanks so much. Their website says they wear Robertson tartan kilts. I'm not able to activate their photo essay, but the relatively low quality photos on their website actually almost make my point about the Robertson Red (modern) tartan being a sea of red with murky blue and green bands insufficiently breaking the monotony. I think the white stripe variant really DOES look much nicer (and, I assume, so did someone in touch with Wilson's way back after the Articles of Proscription were repealed).