District
New Hampshire Tartans Page
The New Hampshire tartan was designed in 1993 by Ralf L Hartwell Jr to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the New Hampshire Highland games and was adopted as the State tartan by Governor's proclamation in 1994. Purple represents the State bird, the purple finch and flower, lilac; green represents the forests; black the granite mountains; white the snow and red the State's heroes. 10% of sales in the New Hampshire tartan go directly to the NHSCOT organisation to support their Mission to promote and preserve Scottish culture for future generations.
New Hampshire Tartans
1 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
New Hampshire Tartan Origins & History
New Hampshire Highland Games
How it all started
From its humble beginnings as a Clan Picnic in 1975, NH Highland games formed as an annual event in 1976 and has gone on to be listed as one of the top three Highland Games in the world based on the attendance of over 35,000 people!
Today NHSCOT® is a Federally Registered Trademark hosting not only the NH Highland Games & Festival, but an annual Heritage Lecture Series, a lively music event known as Beltane and a family friendly Scottish New Year celebration called Hogmanay.
Let's talk about tartan...
Designed in 1993 by Ralf L. Hartwell to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NH Highland Games & Festival.
In June 1994, State Representative Stephen Avery, also the first commissioner (executive director) for NHSCOT, arranged for Governor Stephen Merrill to proclaim the tartan as the state tartan of New Hampshire. Avery introduced a bill to the New Hampshire General Court for permanent recognition of the tartan, which was signed into law in May 1995.
Purple represents the state bird, the purple finch and flower, lilac; green the forests; black the granite mountains; white the snow; and red the state’s heroes.
