Wool comes from several types of animals; sheep(wool), goats(cashmere/mohair), oxen(qiviut), rabbits(angora) and many kinds of camels(alpaca,lama etc). It grows in clusters and has a crimped texture which makes it easier to spin the fleece because the fibres attach to each other like velcro. The crimp in the wool gives it a greater bulk than other textiles so it insulates well, retaining heat. The oldest known European wool textile was 1500 B.C. found preserved in a Danish Bog. Wool has an enormous history behind it and much more in front of it as we will continue to use and infuse wool into many fabrics for many, many more years to come.
This fabric/textile is incredible, wool can be used for so many different things. I have a wool blanket my grandmother made and its lasted for many years. Wool is fantastic for lasting, with the consideration of the person who made the blanket, jacket, etc. It can keep you warm on those cold winter nights, getting cozy next to a fire with some wool socks, a sweater, and a blanket can be all you need for those chilly nights, well maybe a hot chocolate too. I think its amazing that it comes from so many different types of animals and each one feels completely different on your skin. My friend bought some alpaca socks which she found warm and soft but to me they were itchy and hot on my skin, I found it interesting that we felt the same type of wool and yet it felt so different to each of us. Yet, I still love wool and all it is used for, which makes it a wonderful fabric to use!
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]
