Time to VOTE for a NY State tartan

[Brian K]

I still think we need some support/input from Societies in NY.... I think that would help a lot.....

such as http://www.standrewsny.org/

I agree, Beerbecue. There must be some members or officers that are also members here. As long as we're doing this in an open forum there's no reason they can't participate like the rest of us. If you know any of them encourage them to check it out.

We can't do this on our own if we want the tartan to be accepted by more than ourselves and the legislature.

Regards,

Brian

PS - I would hope that they wouldn't have too strong an objection to the project or our designs - if they think they should be the ones to propose one they've had many years to do so

[Woodsheal]

I definitely agree to the need for support from these organizations to get a tartan adopted by the state. However, opening up the design process to all and sundry will perpetuate said process till doomsday!
How many people are tartan designers? Damn' few. I still think the best way to proceed is to present a finished design, and then seek backing for it....

[macwilkin]

I definitely agree to the need for support from these organizations to get a tartan adopted by the state. However, opening up the design process to all and sundry will perpetuate said process till doomsday!
How many people are tartan designers? Damn' few. I still think the best way to proceed is to present a finished design, and then seek backing for it....

Spot on, Brian!

T.

[Brian K]

I definitely agree to the need for support from these organizations to get a tartan adopted by the state. However, opening up the design process to all and sundry will perpetuate said process till doomsday!
How many people are tartan designers? Damn' few. I still think the best way to proceed is to present a finished design, and then seek backing for it....

Agreed, Brian. Even if we end up deciding we're not thrilled with what we have here and want to start over I would not suggest throwing the design process open and starting some sort of contest. I enjoy designing and Amble is very talented - between the two of us we can handle that part.

Where we're really going to need a lot involvement is marshaling support from the various Scottish organizations around the state. Everything from the state St Andrews Society to local groups and Highland games organizers. The NYC Tartan Day parade committee might be a good place to get some support also. If anyone should support such an effort they should.

Regards,

Brian

[joecool]

Since I am not from New York (or ever even been to New York) I won't vote officially, but I did want to say that the "C" tartan is my favorite. I think that tartan would make a fine kilt. Good luck!

[OC Richard]

I must have missed something: did Barbara say that design A would be difficult/impossible to pleat to the sett?

My answer to that would be that pleating to the sett isn't necessary or even preferable in my opinion. Tartan A could be "pleated to the block", to the open green area, for example.

Which brings up an interesting issue: in The Art of Kiltmaking "pleating to the block" isn't mentioned. What is mentioned is the "unfortunate lawnchair effect" of having horizonal elements predominate.

But this sort of pleating is rather common. Some military kilts and many Pipe Band kilts are pleated that way. It's not always a clear-cut thing, because kilts can be pleated to the stripe, but to a stripe which is very weak, so at any distance the kilt appears to be pleated to the block.

In any case I wouldn't reject a strong tartan design simply because it doesn't lend itself to one specific style of pleating.

[Woodsheal]

What's next...?

[Brian K]

What's next...?

Well, Brian, I had hope we would be able to have the design selection phase of our endeavor finished by now, but I'm not so sure. As I read through the thread it seems that many of the comments posted by those who voted for C were lukewarm in their support at best. It looked like they were settling for C rather than enthusiastically endorsing it. In my experience, when negative feelings are expressed, or even simple reservations are expressed, there are many more who hold those feelings but did not share them. A came in second and "We need to start over" came in third.

I think we need to confirm our choice with a new poll. Obviously, C will be one of the choices. A modification of A, in deference to Barb and Gabe's reservations about the difficulties a kilt maker would experience with this sett, will be another choice and something entirely different will be included because the strength of the first and second place designs need to verified by giving voters something else to choose from if, indeed, the support for the winning design truly represented "settling."

I hate to do this, and add more time, but I tried to make it clear numerous times that getting a good design was the highest priority before we moved ahead with this project. The final design still could be tweaked a bit because a premier kilt maker has offered input once we have finalized our choice. A tartan that doesn't lend itself very well to kilt making would hardly be worth the trouble.

It is my hope to start the confirming poll soon. A post announcing it will be made here and in the original thread so as many people as possible are notified quickly.

Regards,

Brian

[Brian K]

The thread with the confirming poll has been started. Please vote again.