Plaid Fabric Guide

Yes of course! Swatches in all our fabrics are available to order here. Post and packing is free on all swatches.

Please email us the picture and we will do our best to identify it for you. Any background information such as when or where it was bought, ideas on plaids it might be linked to are always very helpful.

1 yard = 0.91 metres
 

We try to provide metric and non-metric measurements on all the product pages but if not then use the conversion above or type it into google and he will soon tell you.

The widest choice of plaid is in the wool ranges. We do however stock cotton, polycotton, polyviscose and polywool in a more limited range of plaids and these fabrics are all machine washable. Visit the product page to see the full list of what is available and if you still aren't sure please email us and we can confirm what is available to you.

The minimum order on all our fabrics is 0.3m or 11.8 inches (0.33 yards). The minimum order for our Polyviscose Fabric is 1m and for Pride Fabrics is 0.91m.

If you are ordering over 10m of fabric we can offer a discount dependent on quantity. Please contact us for a quotation.

All of our pure wool plaid fabrics are fire retardant to domestic standard. We can also treat fabrics to commercial standard on request - you must order a minimum of 12m (13.1 yards) of fabric and a small charge applies per meter.

Wool is naturally shower proof, how else do those hardy sheep stay dry and warm? And yes we can make your fabric fully waterproof - you must order a minimum of 12m (13.1 yards) of fabric and a small charge applies per meter.

Wool is renewable, making it a more sustainable choice of fibre and fabric for the planet. An increasingly important consideration for manufacturers and consumers alike, given the impact of synthetic fibres on the environment.

When the life of a wool item ends, rather than lasting for decades in landfill or the ocean it will naturally degrade over time. This process allows the circular cycle to continue - providing valuable nutrients to the earth and nourishing the land sheep graze on. As long as there is plentiful land for sheep to graze on, there will be fleece to shear (shearing is the process of removing the fleece, which is just like getting a haircut as the wool grows right back) and wool to weave.

Our garments are classic by design and therefore considered "slow fashion", staple items for your wardrobe which you can wear for years to come. What we love about garments such as kilts and pleated skirts is that they are so often passed down from family to family through the generations, truly sustainable clothing!

Unfortunately as our bonnie Scotland is such a small country we do not quite produce enough wool to feed the growing demand for tartan and woollen goods. Our lambswool is therefore sourced from both the UK and Australia, while our cashmere is sourced from Mongolia and China, then they are treated, spun, dyed and woven into our beautiful tartan fabric and woollen goods right here in Scotland. ScotlandShop is based in the Scottish Borders, an area world renowned for our high quality textiles and home to Heriot Watt University where some of the most famous fashion designers began their careers. You can learn more about the weaving process on the blog.

You’ll be pleased to hear that wool actually keeps itself clean naturally! It banishes odours through moisture control, and is naturally stain and wrinkle resistant. Here are some of our top tips for caring for your wool to make it last a lifetime;

Brushing
Use a soft garment brush to brush garments lengthwise after wearing. This will remove surface dirt that might become stains later on.

Airing
To remove odours, lay wool garments flat on a bed or clean towel for an hour after wearing. Your tartan garments may be hung in fresh air on a suitable hanger.

Storing
Woven wool garments should be hung on shaped or padded coat hangers. Thin, hard hangers can cause your wool to become misshapen. Remove any belts and accessories, and fasten any zips, buttons and clasps before hanging to help retain the garment’s shape. Since food stains and body oils attract moths, you should ensure your wool garment is clean before storing it away. Ideally, use a Woolmark-endorsed moth repellent but do not place directly on the garment.

Resting
Rest wool garments for 24 hours before wearing again. This gives the natural resilience and spring in the wool fibre time to recover and return to its original shape.

Drying
If your wool gets wet, air-dry the garment flat on a clean towel at room temperature away from direct sunlight or heat.

Dry clean only
If your tartan garments need a little more than a brush, please take them to a professional dry cleaner! Only our 8oz wool fabric is suitable for machine washing on a wool cycle.