Black Watch to the Stripe

[Chas]

Hi Chas,

What you might be missing is the fact that the Black Watch tartan is the Campbell tartan. I was curious about your statement "that the Black Watch tartan should always be pleated to the stripe." Are you saying that all Campbells ( except those of Cawdor, Breadalbane, and Loudoun ) should have their kilt pleated to the stripe, or should this just apply to those who wear the tartan as a "universal" tartan?

PS. Most of the Campbells I have met in Argyll (Argyll himself, Strachur, Airds, Lochnell) all wear the kilt pleated to the sett, of course. This ties in to some of the comments of Jock Scot in his fascinating thread about "theory and practice."

In truth, I don't quite know what I am saying. Bear with me - I am thinking this through as I am typing. Except for the picture that John (English Bloke) posted, I have only ever seen the Black Watch pleated to the Stripe.

Although the Black Watch and the Campbell tartan is one and the same, I think that they are different, depending on where one stands.

If one is a Campbell, one would see the tartan as the Campbell tartan and would presumably pleat it to the sett as is the current Scottish fashion.

On the other hand, the OP was talking about the length of Black Watch tartan that he had. As far as I know the Black Watch, for uniformity, pleated to the stripe. It wasn't till you asked the question:

And if you are a Campbell?

that I remembered that it was also a clan tartan. I don't know if I am the only one here on XMarks who sees the tartan as universal and forgets about the Campbell connection.

So I would say that John's kilt was in the Campbell tartan as it is pleated to the sett and the same tartan pleated to the stripe becomes the Black Watch tartan because that is the way they have always done it.

I think that's what I mean.

Regards

Chas