What tartan is this?

**Barb T** · 13th December 16, 07:54 AM

If you look carefully, you'll see that your pic is actually black-white-black-yellow-black. That's Tara/Murphy.

**lschwartz** · 13th December 16, 09:07 AM

OK, the Tara sett from left to right has two vertical "stripes" of black/white/black/yellow/black and a single vertical "stripe" of red/green/black/green/red. The single vertical "stripe" in the picture is the same as the double vertical stripes, black/white/black/yellow/black...no red or green in it at all.

So, I am thinking that this is either a tartan other than Tara/Murphy OR it is a variant of Tara/Murphy. What do you think?

I just really liked this tartan and was thinking of getting a kilt made in it, but I want to be sure of the name before I ordered one.

As always, thanks to anyone and everyone for their help.

Larry

**ctbuchanan** · 13th December 16, 09:59 AM

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...urphy-district

**The Wizard of BC** · 13th December 16, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by lschwartz

OK, the Tara sett from left to right has two vertical "stripes" of black/white/black/yellow/black and a single vertical "stripe" of red/green/black/green/red. The single vertical "stripe" in the picture is the same as the double vertical stripes, black/white/black/yellow/black...no red or green in it at all.

So, I am thinking that this is either a tartan other than Tara/Murphy OR it is a variant of Tara/Murphy. What do you think?

I just really liked this tartan and was thinking of getting a kilt made in it, but I want to be sure of the name before I ordered one.

As always, thanks to anyone and everyone for their help.

Larry

The definition of Tartan is a plaid that is the same up and down (verical) as it is side to side (horizontal). So everything is squares.
What you are seeing in this video is just a bit confusing to someone not familiar with how fabric is folded to create the pleats of a kilt.

The kilt in your video is pleated so that the same vertical element of the Tartan goes down each pleat. It creates a very different look than the whole flat fabric used in the aprons.

In this photo you can see examples of what I am describing.
The Tartan is the X Marks which you can also see as the wallpaper of this forum.

On top is the fabric laid out flat. You can see the entire design.
But below the fabric has been folded differently.

Notice that when the fabric is folded so that a single element of the Tartan goes down each stripe the total effect is quite different and can appear to be a different Tartan.

If you will look at the video again, look at time mark 2:35. Just after Howie is showing the kilts hanging on the rack you see a quick shot of the kilt in question laying on a shelf. You can now see the entire Tartan pattern. It is much clearer that this Tartan is Tara/Murphy and is the same warpwise and weftwise.

**lschwartz** · 13th December 16, 03:46 PM

Steve,

Thanks for the added bit of insight. I didn't know that the horizontal and vertical patterns always matched. I also noticed the red in the pattern when I watched the video again, now that I knew to look for it.

Thanks to all for your guidance and patience with this newbie.

Regards,

Larry

**lschwartz** · 16th December 16, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

The definition of Tartan is a plaid that is the same up and down (verical) as it is side to side (horizontal). So everything is squares.
What you are seeing in this video is just a bit confusing to someone not familiar with how fabric is folded to create the pleats of a kilt.

The kilt in your video is pleated so that the same vertical element of the Tartan goes down each pleat. It creates a very different look than the whole flat fabric used in the aprons.

In this photo you can see examples of what I am describing.
The Tartan is the X Marks which you can also see as the wallpaper of this forum.

On top is the fabric laid out flat. You can see the entire design.
But below the fabric has been folded differently.

Notice that when the fabric is folded so that a single element of the Tartan goes down each stripe the total effect is quite different and can appear to be a different Tartan.

If you will look at the video again, look at time mark 2:35. Just after Howie is showing the kilts hanging on the rack you see a quick shot of the kilt in question laying on a shelf. You can now see the entire Tartan pattern. It is much clearer that this Tartan is Tara/Murphy and is the same warpwise and weftwise.

Steve,

In looking more carefully at the pleated tartan on the bottom of your picture, am I correct in saying that this is an example/illustration of five different ways you can pleat a kilt, and not the actual pleating for someone's actual kilt that you are making? Starting from left to right it looks like an example of pleating to the sett, then pleating to the faint three part "stripe", then pleating to the no-stripe, then pleating to the gold stripe, and finally pleating to the bold white stripe.

Larry

**The Wizard of BC** · 16th December 16, 12:41 PM

You are correct Larry. This is a sampler and not a kilt. I wanted a long length of fabric pleated in different ways to show to potential customers.
I keep this rolled up in my "Kilt-a-cation" station.
I love watching the faces as I unroll a single length of fabric with all the possibilities.

If a customer is long distance and has not seen my sampler I will send them a photo like this of their fabric pleated different ways and let them choose which way they like better.
Here is Buchanan pleated different ways. They can usually see from samples like this that not all the ways you can fold fabric will be pleasing to the eye.

From left to right - To no stripe - To the White within the Red - To the black within the yellow - Splitting the colors - and to the Sett.
This customer asked if I could do the split colored pleating. I did this sample specifically to show why I was advising against it.

I also have pleating samples like these to show the different ways fabric can be folded.

Knife pleats to the stripe.

Knife pleats to the Sett

These show the difference in pleat depth.

I also have other different samples like regular box and military box pleats. This is to show that different ways of folding fabric will result in different amounts of material used.

**lschwartz** · 16th December 16, 01:01 PM

Thanks Steve,

I love learning all the ins and outs of how kilts are structured, ancient vs. modern vs. weathered vs. hunting vs. muted, all the different tartans that are out there, evening vs. day dress. So much to learn, but it is fun and I enjoy it. I just hope that I don't get a yearning to learn how to play the bagpipes because that looks like a whole other way to drain my time and my bank account.

**Terry Searl** · 16th December 16, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

You are correct Larry. This is a sampler and not a kilt. I wanted a long length of fabric pleated in different ways to show to potential customers.
I keep this rolled up in my "Kilt-a-cation" station.
I love watching the faces as I unroll a single length of fabric with all the possibilities.

If a customer is long distance and has not seen my sampler I will send them a photo like this of their fabric pleated different ways and let them choose which way they like better.
Here is Buchanan pleated different ways. They can usually see from samples like this that not all the ways you can fold fabric will be pleasing to the eye.

From left to right - To no stripe - To the White within the Red - To the black within the yellow - Splitting the colors - and to the Sett.
This customer asked if I could do the split colored pleating. I did this sample specifically to show why I was advising against it.

I also have pleating samples like these to show the different ways fabric can be folded.

Knife pleats to the stripe.

Knife pleats to the Sett

These show the difference in pleat depth.

I also have other different samples like regular box and military box pleats. This is to show that different ways of folding fabric will result in different amounts of material used.

What great Photos!.....could you do the same kind of variations on the Canadian Maple Leaf tartan for me......when it is convenient.... Thank-you...........by the way my waist coat is suppose to be delivered shortly ........ what wonderful service ..... I'll post a photo later ....Cheers

**ctbuchanan** · 16th December 16, 03:54 PM

Steve Ashton what a great visual (made all the more memorable with the Ancient Buchanan) and it had to be more of a challenge because the Buchanan is asymmetrical. Really enjoyed the photo tutorial. I went through the same process with my kiltmaker (Bonnie Heather) when I had my traditional made up in the Ancient year before last.

Aye yours,
CTBuchanan