Sunday 25 August 2013

Fabric: Tartan


Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns. Tartan is often called plaid in North America, but in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or in reality a plain ordinary blanket such as one would have on a bed.

I decided to look up my family Tartan because I think it is really important to know history about your family.  Also, I think it is great that my family chose this type of woven fabric to represent their "clan"(bottom left/bottom centre picutre). Tartans are chosen by the wearers preference and was not until the 19th century that they were associated with clans and families of Scottish heritage.  There are several types and colours of tartans, my favourite is Burberry for obvious reason. , Wilson is my mothers maiden name which is Scottish and Irish, I am proud to be part of such great heritages.

WILSON Motto: Ever Watchful The name literally means ‘Son of Will’ and certain Wilsons of Caithness and Sutherland descend William, son of the Chief of Clan Gunn in the mid 15th Century. Another association of the Wilsons of Banffshire is with the Clan Innes of Aberchirder whose Chief at the time was a prominent Covenanter and a Privy Councillor. The most famous Wilsons however are those of Bannockburn. They were pioneers of industrial tartan weaving and marketing of the clan and district tartans. Not only did they supply the highland regiments with tartan cloth but also became a great manufacturer of tartan products in the ‘Tartan Revival’ at the beginning of the 19th Century. Indeed, William Wilson of the Bannockburn firm designed the Wilson Tartan at this time for his wife Janet.[1]




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