Scottish Borders Tartans
10 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
Scottish Borders Tartan Origins & History
Explore the history
There is so much to see in do in the Scottish Borders, from the grand and spellbinding abbeys to the miles of mountains upon which you get a beautiful view of the countryside. Our ScotlandShop HQ is based on a farm in the small Borders town of Duns and we are lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful views. The history of the area is one that involves a lot of conflict and bloodshed, mostly due to the unruly Border Reivers, but also from the Wars of Scottish Independence which took place during the 13th and 14th centuries.
Borderland Scottish Plaid
The Borderland Scottish plaid was designed by Alistair Buchan in 1996 and was inspired by the colours of the Scottish Borders, home to clans such as the Elliots and the fiesty Armstrongs.
Bonnie Borders
The ScotlandShop headquarters are actually based within the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Borders, only a 5 minute drive outside of the bonny town of Duns. We have a gorgeous view of the Lammermuir hills, a must see if ever visiting the Scottish BordersDiscover Reivers Week with James Royan
Reivers Week is one of the biggest events in the social calendar in our local market town of Duns. Amy was lucky enough to speak with James Royan, President of Duns Summer Festival Committee, who organise the celebrations! James fills us in on how he first became involved with the committee and tells us all about the ancient traditions dating back to the 15th century, tales of witches included!
Alba nan criochan is gaelic for Borderland Scottish
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