Harris Tweed

**Jock Scot** · 11th May 08, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Ancienne Alliance

Hummmm... will that really change things ?

Well, it may stop things getting any worse for a while.

**JerseyLawyer** · 11th May 08, 09:34 AM

Speaking of tweed... This is slightly off topic, but hopefully not too much. If I were interested in buying a three-piece tweed suit, any suggestions? Bookster?

Of course, I could buy the suit with a pair of breeks, too, and then be ready for that invitation to shoot at some estate that I just KNOW will eventually come. ;)

**Jock Scot** · 12th May 08, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by JerseyLawyer

Speaking of tweed... This is slightly off topic, but hopefully not too much. If I were interested in buying a three-piece tweed suit, any suggestions? Bookster?

Of course, I could buy the suit with a pair of breeks, too, and then be ready for that invitation to shoot at some estate that I just KNOW will eventually come. ;)

There is Tweed and then there is Harris Tweed,they are not quite the same thing.I have never heard of Bookster,but they have some interesting stuff by the looks of it.If you were going to buy a shooting suit make sure that you don't buy that awful thin,soft fashion type tweed, it won't last for 5 minutes!Nothing less than 16oz, 24oz is the best for that job.

When this invitation to shoot arrives out of the blue,so to speak, do you think you might require a loader?

**JerseyLawyer** · 12th May 08, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

There is Tweed and then there is Harris Tweed,they are not quite the same thing.I have never heard of Bookster,but they have some interesting stuff by the looks of it.If you were going to buy a shooting suit make sure that you don't buy that awful thin,soft fashion type tweed, it won't last for 5 minutes!Nothing less than 16oz, 24oz is the best for that job.

When this invitation to shoot arrives out of the blue,so to speak, do you think you might require a loader?

If I buy a shooting suit, I want the kind made out of tweed so thick it feels like carpet.

The Bookster site looked interesting, and they will ease out the waist of the jacket for those of us that might have need of more room around the waistline, so I liked seeing that.

If I get the suit, I'll wait for the phone to ring and then let you know.

Of course, I could wear it to shoot skeet at my own club, but I might get a few odd looks.

**calanacrafts** · 12th May 08, 12:28 PM

As I am a true Hearach (someone who was born and brought up in Harris) I feel I need to reply to this post, Especially as I work with Harris tweed fabric and wool. "The new owner of the largest mill Mr Haggas has decided as far as he can be established that he does not wish to sell tweed to clothes manufacturers around the world, but instead want to drastically reduce the number of patterns and make cloth only for his own range of five or so patterns". He has laid workers off in the last few weeks, but saying that, there are numerous Independant weavers like Donald John Mackay from Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co, who actually put Harris Tweed back on the market when he secured an order from NIKE who now have to get their cloth washed and finished by Shawbost Mill, as Donald John weaves a single width cloth and Mr haggas did not want the single width going though his mill. But saying this there is a new company which has started up trading as Harris Tweed Hebrides, in the old Shawbost Harris Tweed Mill, they are employing 20 workers, , . So hopefully when the Shawbost Mill fulfills their orders we the local crafts folk will be able to buy from them. I am sure they will also have a website although I have not looked for it as I am in touch by phone and come August can go to the Shawbost mill to buy my Harris tweed and Harris Wool. Thanks for reading Joan, Calana Crafts

**Dukeof Kircaldy** · 12th May 08, 04:43 PM

That's better news!

Originally Posted by calanacrafts

As I am a true Hearach (someone who was born and brought up in Harris) I feel I need to reply to this post, Especially as I work with Harris tweed fabric and wool. "The new owner of the largest mill Mr Haggas has decided as far as he can be established that he does not wish to sell tweed to clothes manufacturers around the world, but instead want to drastically reduce the number of patterns and make cloth only for his
own range of five or so patterns". He has laid workers off in the last few weeks, but saying that, there are numerous Independant weavers like Donald John Mackay from Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co, who actually put Harris Tweed back on the market when he secured an order from NIKE who now have to get their cloth washed and finished by Shawbost Mill, as Donald John weaves a single width cloth and Mr haggas did not want the single width going though his mill. But saying this there is a new company which has started up trading as Harris Tweed Hebrides, in the old Shawbost Harris Tweed Mill, they are employing 20 workers, , . So hopefully when the Shawbost Mill fulfills their orders we the local crafts folk will be able to buy from them. I am sure they will also have a website although I have not looked for it as I am in touch by phone and come August can go to the Shawbost mill to buy my Harris tweed and Harris Wool. Thanks for reading Joan, Calana Crafts