Scottish Tartans
Tartan design acquired a national significance not only in Scotland but universally, it’s made up of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands or threads of colors whose variations are symbolic of the various different clans that have historically made up for the Scottish people. Tartan originated in the Highlands and it makes each every individual tartan pattern some extent of pride for Scots as a united national heritage.

Modern Tartan Plaid
History Of the Tartan
Tartan has an ancient history. It had been this way from the 17th century until the mid-19th century when many “ Tartan Pattern“ were created to be associated with Scottish clans and families. The earliest known tartan in Scotland is usually dated to the third or fourth century AD. In other parts of the earth, tartan cloth has been found dating to approximately 3000 BC. Originally, tartan designs had no names, no symbolic meanings and tartan cloth was handwoven and typically supplied locally. Today, it’s estimated that there are nearly 7,000 different tartans that exist, with around 150 new ones created annually .
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When I talked to people that are unfamiliar with the colour variations available for a given pattern someone told that; ‘The Scottish Tartan Patterns is split into Five types which are, the “ancient ”, “modern ”, “muted ” “hunting “, “weathered” when actually they’re all one and therefore the same tartan!
MODERN, ANCIENT, HUNTING, WEATHERED, MUTED..
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
MODERN TARTAN
Modern Tartan are darker, bolder and more during a vivid shade. Ancient and Modern designs tend to share an equivalent sett but the reds are bolder, blues appear navy, and greens are greener.
ANCIENT TARTAN
In Ancient Tartan it’s lighter and softer shades that are more easily seen like greens and blues are smooth & red appears more orange.
MUTED TARTAN
Muted Tartan is slightly different from Modern, for instance in Muted green colour looks more like green. Colours utilized in tartan have a selected meaning and it’s purely a contemporary one.
WEATHERED TARTAN
The main difference with the reproduction shades of Weathered Tartan is that the blues become slate blue, black a less intense charcoal black, red a deeper shade and green a sort of kakhi. Men wear kilts day and night to shield themselves from harsh weather conditions.
HUNTING TARTAN
Hunting Tartan was traditionally worn during hunting and these colours are most likely to find in nature. These are almost in greens and browns and they are the strongest colours here. For example MacLean Tartan is a red tartan, so a hunting tartan would have been needed to blend in more with the greens of the woodlands.
WHAT IS TARTAN PLAID

– Plaid is additionally commonly used word for Tartan which suggests that it’s made up of a cloth with a tartan pattern. Both contain horizontal and vertical stripes that intersect each other at a 90° angle, forming grid-like patterns across the textile.“ Tartan Plaid“ are very smiliar patterns which aren’t very easy to spot. However, this is often where it gets a touch bit complicated because all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans.

Today, if we see the tartan and “clan tartan” it is a crucial part of a Scottish clan. Most Scottish clans will have many different tartans correlated which can be created and added to the list of clan tartans, but they must be approved by the clan chief, and the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and then finally the Advisory Committee on Tartan.
SCOTTISH CLAN TARTANS
Moreover, many Tartan Patters have been developed for Individuals, Families, Districts, Universal and Regiments. In which, tartan for Individuals refer to the people who are linked with one’s family background and are worn by the clan’s members as their benefactors. If someone features a Scottish surname then there’s probably a tartan related to this name too as an example, Royal Stewart Tartan is strictly connected to the royalty which may be a very large sett and it’s divided by four which explains the odd-numbered that thread counts where blue bordering the red blocks is usually shown as azure.

Clans
DISTRICTS , REGIMENTAL TARTANS
Where in Districts Tartanit’s named after the actual geographic area which may be a symbol of nations, cities, provinces, states or maybe small towns. These sorts of tartans are usually worn by those that feel a private connection to the world that the tartan represents like Sutherland Tartan during which it features a deep forest green color that covers most of it, lining within the darker green, during which grassy green color is to offer it emphasis. Regimental Tartan is generally military tartans, however, these are affiliated with a selected regiment, and really, for instance, Black Watch Tartan Kilt which consists of two colors: stark black and a deep forest green shade. These colors run alongside one another in traditional tartan style only, veterans or currently serving members of that regiment should wear these then there are even regional tartans that are officially recognized by governmental entities.

Sutherland Districts Tartan Regimental Black Watch Tartan

ORPORATION, UNIVERSAL TARTAN
Corporation Tartan belongs to a selected company, organization or group of individuals that gathered around particular interests means these tartans are worn only by employees or group members during which weaving of the tartan is generally restricted to company approved weavers only. And in Universal Tartan it’s intended for people with a link to Scotland, who wish to wear tartan but can’t identify their clans or the districts where their ancestors lived in.

Royal Stewart Tartan
Tartan Colors
Colours used in tartan have a specific meaning and it is purely a modern one. The tartan colors were extracted mainly from dye produced by the plants, roots, berries and trees local to a specific geographic area. The pattern bisect horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours.

Scottish Kilt Shop
How to Knit Tartan Patterns
To knit a tartan patterns you’ll use a machine but you could certainly knit the bottom by hand. The thought was to use a mix of knitting & weaving in long threads to form up the pattern during a simple manner and also spend some leftover yarn. you’ll fall crazy with this awesome stitch that’s super pretty with bold, pastel, or neutral colors from this you’ll make plenty of different knitting projects, and that they will all have a really cool effect.

Alignable
Looking to buy tartan fabric or kilt ?
Struggling to find the perfect tartan for your kilt, just head over to Scottish kilt to get your ideal tartan fabric for any special corporate event or family gathering. All our tartan kilts are handmade and made to measure so actually, you can order any size and length. Our wide range of fabrics consists of over 200+ authentic tartans are available.