Harris Tweed Tartans

[Kiltman]

Fantastic! Thanks. Let us know when it's available. I want some.

[Wompet]

We've found a weaver there who is able to weave us ANY tartan as Harris Tweed.

As the proud owner for the "Not-quite-Hunting Robertson" Newsome box pleat, this really appeals to me.

Even the weathered Gunn tartan has the narrow green lines separating the blue and black checks (although the green is light brown and the blue has become dove grey). The Harris tweed tartan shown on Scotweb's site is totally lacking in these stripes:

Harris Tweed tartan:



Here is the Gunn tartan in weathered colors:



Close, but no cigar!

The Scotsman - rotate either the top or bottom picture 90°. Once the tartans are aligned the same way, the narrow lines in the overcheck may be slightly more noticeable. They're there, but the "weathering" combined with the harris tweed colors make them difficult to spot.

[figheadair]

This is a welcome venture that will do wonders for supporting the Harris Tweed industry. It does though raise an interesting question about what is the difference between tartan and tweed. In the early C19th Wilsons of Bannockburn also sole ain coloured tartan; i.e one or solid coloured.

Given that one can weave a pattern, or otherwise, on both types of cloth I've always made the distinction that 'true' tartan is woven from solid coloured yarn whereas tweed is woven from a mixtured yarn. Thus, the original Balmoral was in fact a tweed and not a tartan. Ditto the Elcho/Hodden Grey.