My Outlander type tartan and matching shawl is here !

[Mike S]

Sounds great, can't wait to see it. As soon as Angie sends me the photos, I will upload and post them.

[OC Richard]

Like one of these?

They look like tartans in Dalgleish's "reproduction" colours (what Lochcarron calls "weathered"). The colours are shifted from the usual colours thus:

green > brownish olive
blue > grey



The difference between tartans done in "reproduction" and "modern" colours is so striking that sometimes it's difficult to recognise that two tartans are in fact the same.

For example this



scarcely looks like it could be the same tartan as this

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

OC Richard, Thank u very much ! The middle one is exactly like my new Outlander kilt ! Thank u very much ..So would I call it Dalgleish tartan ?.... Angie

[Steve Ashton]

The middle picture in OC Richard's post is the Black Watch Tartan in the weathered colorway.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Steve Ashton, Thank you very much I appreciate it, I didn't know it was firm like what Mike said..I like to learn, and I appreciate it..This site is great..All are great on here. XMARKS THE SCOT is great ..It helps a green horn like myself....Thank you.. Angie

[OC Richard]

Yes the Reproduction/Weathered colour scheme is a modern one. The Art Director and Costumer for Outlander, I would assume, chose it due to the palette matching the overall palette they had chosen for the show. This is the way it works in film: the Art Director choses the palette, and fabrics are chosen, sets painted, etc in order to realise the Art Director's vision for the look of the film.

The tartan I posted photos of above, Black Watch, is seen below as it actually appeared in the 18th century, in this fine very large portrait by John Singleton Copley, painted from life, signed and dated 1780



more about the original painting, and its copy, here

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...intings-74907/

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

OC Richard, that is a great portrait .. thank you again for all your help... Angie

[Mike S]

OC Richard, Thank u very much ! The middle one is exactly like my new Outlander kilt ! Thank u very much ..So would I call it Dalgleish tartan ?.... Angie

No Angela, Dalgleish is the name of a weaving firm not a tartan. Richard is saying that the Dalgleish firm calls those color palettes "Reproduction" while most other weavers such as Lochcarron call it "Weathered".

[figheadair]

To clarify, Reproduction Colours is a protected commercial name for a particular colour range that is owned and produced by D.C. Dalgliesh Ltd. Because of this other manufacturers wanting to cash in on the popularity of these type of shades had to produce something simlar and call them something else, hence Weathered Colours produced by the likes of Lochcarron. Whilst they are extremely popular, what one needs to bear in mind is that, based on surviving early specimens, neither range is historically accurate and would not have been common, if seen at all, during in period portrayed by the Outlander series and the like. This is especially the case with [I]Reproduction Colours[I/] which , as has been discussed elsewhere on Xmarks, are a clever trade invention rather than being based on an old specimen as claimed.

[The Wizard of BC]

And as it was explained to me during my last visit to Lochcarron -

Modern versions are "How the Tartan looks using modern, Aniline dyes. They are deep, bright and vivid."

Ancient versions are "A color change to simulate what the Tartan may have looked like if dyed with Natural dyes."

Weathered versions are "Another color change to simulate what the Tartan may have looked like after being out in the sun and faded for 40 years."

So these versions are simply a Tartan designers idea of what may look good and sell more fabric.

When we design a Tartan we specify the thread count. For example 4 yarns of Blue, followed by 18 yarns of Green.

We use the letter "B" to represent Blue and the letter "G" to represent Green. We do not always specify what specific color of Green.

Each weaver has their own color palette. Some are quite specific and distinctive to a particular weaver. So although they all may weave the Black Watch Tartan, and it may be correct according to the thread count, each will be slightly different. There are also slight color variations in dye lots.

We have already heard directly from Terry, the costume designer for Outlander, that the Tartan was designed specifically for the TV show and the colors were chosen to meet the romantic mood of the story line. The design and colors were not supposed to be historically accurate. Even though I knew this beforehand when I watched the show I said to myself; "Oh look, Black Watch Weathered. I've got some of that down in the wool safe."

The actual Outlander Tartan is not yet available to the public in fabric lengths but I can't wait to see your pics.