Tartan evolving into plaid

[Tobus]

Whilst it's true that most tartans are symmetrical (repeat in each direction) there are a number of historical patterns that are asymmetric, Glenorchy for example, so it’s incorrect to make that differentiation as a definition of tartan vs plaid. As I said previously, in Scotland plaid is a garment and not a pattern. I bet that if you asked most non-Scotafile Americans to describe tartan they’d say it was a plaid pattern.

What is this Glenorchy tartan you are talking about? I can't find it. All I see is a MacIntyre-Glenorchy tartan that is indeed a true square-pattern tartan.

I'm not talking about asymmetrical tartans (like Buchanan, for example)... I'm talking about the warp and weft having the same sett. Are there historical authentic tartans with a different sett on the warp than on the weft?

[figheadair]

What is this Glenorchy tartan you are talking about? I can't find it. All I see is a MacIntyre-Glenorchy tartan that is indeed a true square-pattern tartan.

I'm not talking about asymmetrical tartans (like Buchanan, for example)... I'm talking about the warp and weft having the same sett. Are there historical authentic tartans with a different sett on the warp than on the weft?

The original version of the Glenorchy (now often called MacIntyre and/or Glenorchy) was asymmetic by virtue of the light blue stripe being to the side of the small central dark blue as here...



I have a portion of a mid-C18th plaid in this sett so can vouch for it's authenticity.

So far as having a wholly or partically different warp and weft then yes, there are C18th and C19th examples but these are quite rare, much more so that asymmetric setts.