However, I know when I think of tartan (or plaid) I also tend to think of clans, and wonder which tartan goes with what name.
You may be wanting to know your own family or clan tartan. There are so many different tartans. You might already know what YOUR family clan or tartan is, or maybe you want to find out; or perhaps you just love tartan, but don't feel entitled to wear a specific one, but just want to wear everyday tartan clothes .
You'll see kilts and tartan worn at special functions such as weddings and Highland Games . If you're visiting Scotland in the summer months, do make the effort to attend. There is something very stirring about the pipes and drums which you will hear in the Music Events , or you can just listen to it in the background while watching the Dancing Events or perhaps all the heavyweight competitions in the Athletic Events . Be sure to watch "Tossing The Caber" (or 'poles tossed by Scots')
By the way if you live in USA and are interested in buying kilts or accessories - have a wee browse at The Celtic Croft for a great selection of kilts etc.
But getting back to Scottish Plaid Information, there are too many tartan's to mention on this page. The Gordon tartan below is one of my own family tartans.
To Find
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tartan click here
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Scottish Plaid Information
Gordon Tartan
Many people from other countries and in particular America, refer to tartan as plaid. But plaid actually refers to a long woollen piece of cloth worn over the shoulder.
Some people think the term came from the Gaelic word
'plaide'
meaning
The plaid (or sort of shawl) was both simple and easy to wear. Basically it was just a long rectangular strip of tartan material that didn't require any sewing.
It was placed on the ground on top of the wearer's belt, and folded into pleats and the wearer would lie down and fix his belt around him, ensuring that the cloth covered him to at least the knees, thus resembling a kilt.
If a jacket was worn the extra material was looped over one shoulder. As you can imagine, with so much material, it could be used as a blanket too. Again you can get a wee idea of this from the Braveheart movie.
MacLeod Tartan
The patterns of an individual tartan is often called a 'Sett' which refers to its structure which used to be defined by the measurement of the width of each stripe. These days it is now by a precise thread count.
Most 'setts' are symmetrical, with each series of stripes reversed around the 'pivot' or central stripe. The blocks of pattern are then repeated.
The pattern of a tartan is formed by interweaving the bands of stripes at right angles.
The lengthways thread is called the 'warp', which are set on the loom. The crosswise threads or 'weft' are then woven into it.
The style of the weave is known as twill.
Royal Stuart Tartan
From early days, tartans were around for different purposes, and many clans adopted their own 'dress' and 'hunting' tartans. The "Dress" tartans were designed to be 'showy'. The design is normally just a bit different to the main clan tartan and often one of the main background colours changed to white.
The Dress Tartans were and still used on formal occasions and as mentioned earlier are still very popular at weddings and Highland
Games.
If you've enjoyed this page on "Scottish Plaid Information, please also the following:-
Kilts and Flashes
- A brief look at the history of the kilt.
Tartan
Clothes from Scotland
- A summary of some of the tartan clothes that come from Scotland.
Highland Games
- Look at some of the categories of Highland Games event.
Athletic Events
- Highland Games Categories always include a variety of athletic or sporting competition.
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Scottish Plaid Information