For my fellow Marines

[The Wizard of BC]

As you know we Marines have had our own Tartan for some time now. The Leatherneck Tartan is truly nice. But I had a small problem.

I was hoping to use one of the lengths of Leatherneck fabric that I have here in the shop during this years Kilt Kamp. My goal was to do a full traditional hand-sewn Tank with pockets. A first as far as I know.

Here is my problem. When I pulled the fabric out of the wool safe I found that I had two lengths from two weavers.

The top sample is from Lochcarron and the bottom from Strathmore .



I planned to pleat this kilt to the gold stripe



I then discovered I had a second problem.
The Strathmore fabric is 4 yards of single width fabric. Too short for what I want.
And the Lochcarron fabric had been cut to a width suitable for a mid-rise kilt so was too narrow for a full-rise Traditional.


I knew that no matter what, I would need to order more fabric.
And this is where I would like some input from those who have served in the USMC.

I could, of course, order more Leatherneck Tartan fabric. But the Leatherneck Tartan has never been my favorite from a strictly Tartan design standpoint. To my eye the colors used were somehow 'off'. I know that the designer wanted to pay tribute to the whole Corps so included colors from the dress uniform and the fatigue uniform. He included the blues and also the greens. I don't know of a single Marine Uniform that includes these colors in these proportions. This is what is 'off' to my eye.

This got me to thinking. If I have to order new fabric, why not design a new Tartan. One the looked 'right' to my eyes.

So off to the Tartan Designer with this as my inspiration.





I present for the consideration of my fellow Marines ----

The USMC Dress Blue Tartan



I took the colors directly from the Enlisted Dress Blue Uniform and kept what looks to my eye the same proportions.

The Dark Blue for the blouse.
The Light Blue for the trousers.
The two Reds for the blouse piping and the trouser 'blood' stripe.
The White for the cover, waistbelt and gloves.
The Gold to represent the brass of the buttons, waistplate and EGA.
The Black for the shoes and cover bill.


Here are the actual yarn samples I plan to use for this Tartan.



What say you, my fellow Marines?

Did I get this right? Would you approve of this new Tartan? Would you actually wear this new Tartan or should I let well enough alone?

I have already ordered a length of fabric in this Tartan because I need it here before Kilt Kamp. If this is the only time this Tartan is woven then that is fine. But if there seems to be interest the design is not copyrighted (in fact it is not even registered yet).

I will of course post pics when the fabric arrives and will also post pics of the kilt I make from it. With this Tartan I plan to pleat to the Red 'blood' stripe within the light Blue. To my eye this should look sort of like the trousers from the Dress Blue uniform.

Semper Fi.

[hkjrb623]

I like it. The colors on the leatherneck never seemed correct to me.

[davidlpope]

Steve,

I saw your design over at Scotweb and was intrigued. I had considered the same project about 8 years ago but never had the tartan woven. While I like your design, I would encourage you to consider a sett that more closely "matches" the current Leatherneck tartan. Just as Dress MacDonald is easily recognizable as a variation of MacDonald, and Hunting Fraser a easily recognized modification of Fraser, I think that the "Leatherneck Dress Blue" should be easily recognizable as a variation of the Leatherneck tartan.

To that end, I suggest that you simply take the Leatherneck tartan and replace the green section of the tartan with a light blue that matches the Dress Blue trousers and add a wide red stripe to mimic the blood stripe. The Dark Navy Blue then approximates the color of the Dress Blue blouse and the gold and red overstripes on the dark blue mimic Enlisted Rank Insignia colors. Simple and striking.

Just my $.02...



S/F,

David

PS- I have about 5 DW yards of HW Leatherneck tartan is anyone wants a Leatherneck kilt...

[The Wizard of BC]

Thank you for your suggestion David.

While I can agree that a new Tartan based on the original would be a good idea, my goal was not to create a new design that is 'related' or derived from the Leatherneck. I do not want to infringe upon the work of the designers of the Leatherneck.

To my eye the Leatherneck just does not seem to represent the USMC to me. The Green is just 'off' and there is far too much Gold. And no White at all.

When I pleat up samples of the Leatherneck to the stripe there are three obvious choices.
I could offset the pleats to pick up the double red stripes. This would mean very narrow pleats to avoid also getting the blue right on the edge of each pleat.
I could pleat to the 'no stripe' using the center of the Green Band. The entire back of the kilt is now primarily Green. Tried it, don't care for it.
I could pleat to the Gold Stripe. This is the choice in the photo above. This makes for one bright, and my wife says gaudy, looking kilt. I like it, but not everyone would. In fact I usually keep a length of Leatherneck pinned up to the Gold Stripe as an example of an extreme look for my customers. Many run screaming "My eyes, my eyes. "Too bright."

The Leatherneck Tartan is not an easy one to pleat. Not due to the Tartan itself but due to the significance of the colors for those who have worn them.

So I went back to the basics. KISS! What are the colors of the Dress Blue Uniform? What are their proportions? Like the new Tartan or not. It does however represent the Dress Blue Uniform as I see it.

[creagdhubh]

Steve,

I saw your design over at Scotweb and was intrigued. I had considered the same project about 8 years ago but never had the tartan woven. While I like your design, I would encourage you to consider a sett that more closely "matches" the current Leatherneck tartan. Just as Dress MacDonald is easily recognizable as a variation of MacDonald, and Hunting Fraser a easily recognized modification of Fraser, I think that the "Leatherneck Dress Blue" should be easily recognizable as a variation of the Leatherneck tartan.

To that end, I suggest that you simply take the Leatherneck tartan and replace the green section of the tartan with a light blue that matches the Dress Blue trousers and add a wide red stripe to mimic the blood stripe. The Dark Navy Blue then approximates the color of the Dress Blue blouse and the gold and red overstripes on the dark blue mimic Enlisted Rank Insignia colors. Simple and striking.

Just my $.02...



S/F,

David

PS- I have about 5 DW yards of HW Leatherneck tartan is anyone wants a Leatherneck kilt...

***

As a U.S. Marine, I completely agree with David's assessment - he was quicker on the M16A2 Service Rifle trigger than I was - he must have had his selector lever on three-round burst! I love the blue being lighter in colour, thus making it a bit more reflective of our Dress Blue trousers.

Gorgeous design, Steve. I am also rather fond of the name, "Leatherneck Dress Blue."

S/F,

[Geoff Withnell]

I would proudly wear either. I confess a mild preference for David's version.

[fcgeil]

I, too, prefer David's version, primarily because it is lighter to the eye. Your version, while (maybe) proportionately correct, is very dark to my eye. I think I would switch the dark and light blues, thus rendering it somewhat lighter and more pleasing (to me, anyway). As I look at the dress blues, I see more trouser than jacket. While this may not be the actual fact (I didn't measure), it is, and has always been, my impression. So, from that perspective comes my preference.

However, I would proudly wear either (or the Leatherneck Tartan, for that matter), as they are quite sharp.

[Blarney Stone Kisser]

Steve. I know that you said for my "Fellow Marines" but since I was commissiones in the USAF on the 10th of November by a very famous Marine (you have heard the story) and since I am an O-6, I am giving myself permission to comment.

I like it and applaude you for having the gumption to create it. Semper Fi

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

Personally, I like them both -- and think that both should be registered, woven, and worn .

The USMC Dress Blue Tartan
and
The Leatherneck Dress Tartan

My 2p.

Rob.

[fcgeil]

Rob, that is a wonderful idea. I'm glad I thought of it. ;-)