What 'universal' tartans do you like?

[A Hay]

I really like the Auld Lang Syne Grey from Scottishkilts.net.

RockyR: You mentioned a "Balmoral Claret" from HOE, but I was unable to find any reference to such at the HOE website or the STA tartan search. Could you point me to a picture of it, please?

Tom

[Colin]

1. Maple Leaf
2. Isle of Skye
3. Xmarksthescot
4. Nova Scotia
5. Spirit of Scotland
6. Flower of Scotland
7. Earl of St. Andrews modern
8. Pershire New Weathered
9. BC

[macwilkin]

Why are some older tartans like Stewart or Black Watch universal? (Not trying to stir up controversy, if Stewart's not a good example pick another name, just want to learn.)

I have always understood that the Government Sett, also known as "Black Watch" (not Blackwatch) was a "universal" tartan in that at one time, the majority of Scottish regiments wore some version of it, and/or was the basis for almost all of the regimental tartans. So, the "universal" refers to its use by the British Army, and not as a "universal" tartan worn by all. Of course, modern-day marketing has made it a "generic" tartan, along with the Stewart Royal, which technically is also a military tartan, and worn only with permission of the Sovereign, although again, due to the tartan trade, it has become a "generic" tartan.

Cheers,

Todd

[Sylvain]

Twenty-First Century.

[bubba]

Black Watch is also the basis for many Clan tartans, not just regimental tartans. It gets around.

[RockyR]

I really like the Auld Lang Syne Grey from Scottishkilts.net.

RockyR: You mentioned a "Balmoral Claret" from HOE, but I was unable to find any reference to such at the HOE website or the STA tartan search. Could you point me to a picture of it, please?

Tom

Auld Lang Syne is actually made by Marton Mills in their Jura range... I'm not sure if it's on their site yet... A bunch of their new tartans (jura book 3 for those with access to their swatch books) aren't on their site.

Balmoral Claret is a fashion tartan that HOE made up and unveiled at the trade show in January. Not sure if they have it on their site or anywhere online yet. It's in their black/grey tuck selvedge collection that they're calling their "Balmoral collection" (balmoral is in the name of every 1 of the 4 tartans in this collection).

[MacWage]

Let's just say, I bought the 4 yards of Caledonia from The Scottish Weaver remanant page. I also bought some Carolina tartan (not really universal, but an official state tartan of both North and South Carolina.

As for the "generally available" ones, I like the subtlety of Black Watch.

I also like Highland Granite and many, many more.

Wishing I had more money to get more and more tartan material,

[Rex_Tremende]

Here are the ones from my list of favorites that (I think) are not family tartans:

Bear
Canadian Autumn
Children First
Coarse Kilt
Common Kilt
Durango
Evergreen
Highland Village
Highlander
Maple Leaf
Marino
Spirit of Bannockburn
Spirit of Scotland
Spirit of Wales

Then there are these district tartans that I wouldn't have any trouble defending in front of the Tartan Police:

City of Rome
County Down
County Tryone
Cypress
Green Ridge
Hyland Day
Island of Innis
Isle of Arrand
Isle of Gigha
Isle of Skye
Rosscommon County

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[Andrew Green]

What about the USA bicentennial, or the St. Andrew's? Sure the USA national tartan would definitely be a neutral for those who live in the states, along with almost any national tartan (if you live in the respective country)?

The Black Watch does form the basis of many tartans, military and clan, but I have read of folks who have served in the military taking offense to those wearing it who have not served...so neutral, maybe...depends on who you ask. Pride of Scotland should be a safe neutral as well. If you can find your state or district tartan, that should be a perfectly acceptable medium as well.

that's about all I can add at this point.

[Graham]

I really like the St.Columba tartan from Iona, and the Braveheart (the Mel Gibson one, not the Marton Mills one). Both are on my wish list.