Just ordered some swatches...

toadinakilt · 19th May 10, 06:30 AM

I got fed up with trying to see what the various Burnett tartans look like online... every picture looked different. So now Scotweb has my order for one each ancient, weathered, and modern swatches from Lochcarron. I figure the money was worth the peace of mind. Plus I'm sure my wife can make something out of them once I'm done stroking the fabric and purring...

Edit: Does anybody know how large Scotweb's swatches are? The website said something about 140 cm wide, but that's almost 5 feet!

**Nick Fiddes** · 19th May 10, 07:14 AM

Swatches are typically about 6x4" but they vary from mill to mill. The aim is to show the colours with, usually, enough area to get an idea of the sett. But they are very much samples.

The 140cm sounds like the full fabric width. If you can tell me where you saw that in a confusing presentation I can look at getting it clearer. Thanks!

toadinakilt · 19th May 10, 07:39 AM

See, I knew there was no way 5 feet of fabric was making it's way to me for a measly $3.00 a swatch. I think what confused me was that, because the swatches vary according to tartan and manufacturer, there isn't a descriptor of size, but on my order page, it gives some fabric details in fine print, (mill, weight, tartan, and size...). It was the only dimension listed, and I kinda latched onto it.

Looking forward to receiving them! I didn't know jones'ing was possible for swatches...

**xman** · 19th May 10, 09:22 AM

I have found that the wide discrepancy between hues on my computer screen has not borne itself out to be quite so dramatic a difference in the swatches of MacDonald of Clanranald Modern that have made it through my door so far. Since you're looking at different colours you'll see some striking differences.

I find it interesting that, unlike the rest of Lochcarron's Weathered tartans the Burnett Weathered doesn't appear to use brown, but an olive green instead.

toadinakilt · 19th May 10, 09:28 AM

I went to Lochcarron's website just now... and it looks like they don't have Burnett Weathered or Ancient? They did a few days ago!

I think Weathered is probably the best looking of all the Burnett tartans...

**xman** · 19th May 10, 09:31 AM

You were probably on the reiver page.

http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstrome/burnett.html

I agree, that weathered looks pretty nice from here.

**Iainkp** · 19th May 10, 09:39 AM

sounds like a move for the best, even between the same computer, depending on your display settings colours can be off, my laptop changes depending on the batterly life

I ordered some swatches a while ago from Burnetts and Struth, and then when I ordered my practice chanter from them last week I decided to turn them into a soft sleve for it, just sewed them together, didn't take to long at all... although I haven't gotten my PC yet, I just looked online for measurements

Iain

toadinakilt · 19th May 10, 09:45 AM

Right, it was the lightweight page. Silly me.

toadinakilt · 3rd June 10, 09:10 AM

Aaaannndd... they finally shipped! Hopefully Royal Air Mail and the USPS will surprise me with faster-than-normal shipping... I can't wait!

**slohairt** · 3rd June 10, 10:42 AM

The average swatch sizes are 10" x 8" for Strathmore, 9" x 5" for House of Edgar, 9" x 9" for Lochcarron, and 9.5" x 7" for Marton Mills.

Another note: While Lochcarron does indeed still make Burnett Weathered in their Strome Rare Select (i.e. most expensive) range, their online tartan list is very out of date. There are many tartans on those lists that they no longer weave, and some they do that aren't listed.