For my fellow Marines

[The Wizard of BC]

As you know we Marines have had our own Tartan for some time now. The Leatherneck Tartan is truly nice. But I had a small problem.

I was hoping to use one of the lengths of Leatherneck fabric that I have here in the shop during this years Kilt Kamp. My goal was to do a full traditional hand-sewn Tank with pockets. A first as far as I know.

Here is my problem. When I pulled the fabric out of the wool safe I found that I had two lengths from two weavers.

The top sample is from Lochcarron and the bottom from Strathmore .



I planned to pleat this kilt to the gold stripe



I then discovered I had a second problem.
The Strathmore fabric is 4 yards of single width fabric. Too short for what I want.
And the Lochcarron fabric had been cut to a width suitable for a mid-rise kilt so was too narrow for a full-rise Traditional.


I knew that no matter what, I would need to order more fabric.
And this is where I would like some input from those who have served in the USMC.

I could, of course, order more Leatherneck Tartan fabric. But the Leatherneck Tartan has never been my favorite from a strictly Tartan design standpoint. To my eye the colors used were somehow 'off'. I know that the designer wanted to pay tribute to the whole Corps so included colors from the dress uniform and the fatigue uniform. He included the blues and also the greens. I don't know of a single Marine Uniform that includes these colors in these proportions. This is what is 'off' to my eye.

This got me to thinking. If I have to order new fabric, why not design a new Tartan. One the looked 'right' to my eyes.

So off to the Tartan Designer with this as my inspiration.





I present for the consideration of my fellow Marines ----

The USMC Dress Blue Tartan



I took the colors directly from the Enlisted Dress Blue Uniform and kept what looks to my eye the same proportions.

The Dark Blue for the blouse.
The Light Blue for the trousers.
The two Reds for the blouse piping and the trouser 'blood' stripe.
The White for the cover, waistbelt and gloves.
The Gold to represent the brass of the buttons, waistplate and EGA.
The Black for the shoes and cover bill.


Here are the actual yarn samples I plan to use for this Tartan.



What say you, my fellow Marines?

Did I get this right? Would you approve of this new Tartan? Would you actually wear this new Tartan or should I let well enough alone?

I have already ordered a length of fabric in this Tartan because I need it here before Kilt Kamp. If this is the only time this Tartan is woven then that is fine. But if there seems to be interest the design is not copyrighted (in fact it is not even registered yet).

I will of course post pics when the fabric arrives and will also post pics of the kilt I make from it. With this Tartan I plan to pleat to the Red 'blood' stripe within the light Blue. To my eye this should look sort of like the trousers from the Dress Blue uniform.

Semper Fi.