My Outlander type tartan and matching shawl is here !

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

I got my 9th kilt this week ! My Outlander type tartan and matching shawl ! Its beautiful ! Bonnie did a terrific job.. I will post picture soon, w the help of Mike of course... I just know it as The Outlander type tartan ( brown and bluish grey) hunter I believe ....Supposedly the woman that did the kilts etc had the tartans made just for the T.v. show.BUT this kilt truly does look like the one on the show ( Jaime's tartan). so I really do not know anything more about it, other than I like it.Thank you...Angie

[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.

[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.

[Tarheel]

Now that the clarification is settled. Great kilt Angie and a special thanks to Bonnie Heather for a job well done.

[figheadair]

Steve, you're right about Modern Colours and the link to analine dyes. Ancient colours etc on the other hand are a trade invention that are a poor, and incorrect, interpretation of the shades actually achievable from naturals dyes. I discuss the various colour ways in this paper which includes examples of shades that can be obtained from natural dyes.