Tartan vs Plaid
This may interest those of you who are interested in textiles and the history of same.
I came across these rather fascinating (to me anyway) bits of information after just reading a fan fic that described Minerva McGonagall's wardrobe as consisting of 'tartan plaid'. I was listening to a bit of Scottish folk music today too, so, being in that frame of mind, I got wondering if there was an actual difference between the two, (where I come from, the weave, pattern and fabric is always described as tartan, never plaid) or if it was really another name for it. I also wondered what Scots would think about the use of these words by non Scots. Opinions by Scots would be most welcome!
I love tartans, my favourite being one of the variations of the Baird tartan. I think this came about as when I was little, I had a favourite winter skirt made of it, and to top the outfit off, my mum knitted me a lemon angora cardi and made me a Tam O'Shanter to match (she was a milliner by trade, so I was quite spoiled in the hat department as a child). I thought I was quite the fashion plate! I didn't know what tartan it was at the time, but I looked it up many years later after a bout of reminiscence.
I know - dragnet mentality strikes again...
However, I found the information I retrieved quite interesting, and thought I'd share.
This basic article is here: Tartan vs Plaid
This is a fabulous site that shows all the different registered tartans (2800!), how to read one, a bit on how they're woven and the history of tartans: Tartans of Scotland
If you want to know the difference, and don't want to read the article - in a nutshell, (if this is faulty information, any Scots out there please feel free to jump in and correct me) -
Tartan is the word for the actual fabric, and can also be used to differentiate between two different bits of clothing (the kilt and the plaid), the weave and patterns.
Plaid is the length of fabric pinned and draped over the left shoulder in traditional Scottish dress. Plaid comes from the Gaelic word for blanket.
And now, some pics to illustrate (and because I quite like the look of a man in a kilt) I'm seriously thinking of printing this one up and putting it on my wall like a soppy teen... Oh Gerard - you big, boofy, manly Scottish bloke, you...
And this. Yes, I know Liam Neeson is Irish, but he's showing the plaid well, and besides... yum!)
I came across these rather fascinating (to me anyway) bits of information after just reading a fan fic that described Minerva McGonagall's wardrobe as consisting of 'tartan plaid'. I was listening to a bit of Scottish folk music today too, so, being in that frame of mind, I got wondering if there was an actual difference between the two, (where I come from, the weave, pattern and fabric is always described as tartan, never plaid) or if it was really another name for it. I also wondered what Scots would think about the use of these words by non Scots. Opinions by Scots would be most welcome!
I love tartans, my favourite being one of the variations of the Baird tartan. I think this came about as when I was little, I had a favourite winter skirt made of it, and to top the outfit off, my mum knitted me a lemon angora cardi and made me a Tam O'Shanter to match (she was a milliner by trade, so I was quite spoiled in the hat department as a child). I thought I was quite the fashion plate! I didn't know what tartan it was at the time, but I looked it up many years later after a bout of reminiscence.
I know - dragnet mentality strikes again...
However, I found the information I retrieved quite interesting, and thought I'd share.
This basic article is here: Tartan vs Plaid
This is a fabulous site that shows all the different registered tartans (2800!), how to read one, a bit on how they're woven and the history of tartans: Tartans of Scotland
If you want to know the difference, and don't want to read the article - in a nutshell, (if this is faulty information, any Scots out there please feel free to jump in and correct me) -
Tartan is the word for the actual fabric, and can also be used to differentiate between two different bits of clothing (the kilt and the plaid), the weave and patterns.
Plaid is the length of fabric pinned and draped over the left shoulder in traditional Scottish dress. Plaid comes from the Gaelic word for blanket.
And now, some pics to illustrate (and because I quite like the look of a man in a kilt) I'm seriously thinking of printing this one up and putting it on my wall like a soppy teen... Oh Gerard - you big, boofy, manly Scottish bloke, you...
And this. Yes, I know Liam Neeson is Irish, but he's showing the plaid well, and besides... yum!)