Site for Tartan Cross Stitch

> Thistle key fob is nice too. Gee, thanks for that, Sheena! The Forbes tartan is very similar to the one I'd like to do. The only difference is a doubled white stripe. I love the way they've managed to get the colours to work so well. It looks as though it's done with blending, doesn't it?

> Thistle key fob is nice too.

Just because I'm curious, are any of these suitable for a Mackenzie?

Lucille

>>> Thistle key fob is nice too.>

Not a one - so I don't have to do one !

I've done some cross stitch of plain tartan (not pics of tartan objects), and for some setts, it works really well. This useful for pillows, picture frames, stockings, ornaments, vests, what have you.

1. Find a book that tells you the setts--the set up for weaving. E.g., 3 red, 4 green, 1 white, 4 green, 3 red, etc. Most true tartans are even plaids. That is, there is a series of colors, a pivot color, then the sequence repeats in reverse, and so on. The same sequence is applied vertically and horizontally. Identify the pivot stripe in the pattern.

1. Decide which color is your main color. Usually this is pretty easy. Choose fabric that is this color. Choose floss which matches the other colors in the sett.

2. Start in the middle, either vertically or horizontally. Let's say you are stitching the columns first. Stitch ONE column of your pivot color, using HALF cross stitches, and stitching only EVERY OTHER Stitch.

1. Stitch however many columns of your next color (whether it is another column of the pivot color or the next color in the sequence), using half stitches and stitching every other stitch. START stitching one stitch "off" of where you started the pivot column. That is, if your first column is stitched in the even numbered squares, stitch the next column over in the odd numbered squares. The next column is in the evens again, and so on. Do not stitch in the columns that are your background color.

2. Continue in this manner until you have done half of the area--everything on one side of the first column. Then REVERSE the sequence and stitch everything on the OTHER side of the first column.

1. Now do the same thing horizontally--start in the middle with your pivot color, using half stitches and stitching in every other square, using the squares you did not use in stitching the columns.

This results in a tweedy, recognizable tartan. You have to pay attention, because it can be easy to lose your place in reversing the pattern.

If your tartan has a long sett and you're doing a smallish item, you may want to reduce the sett by dividing by two--2, 4, 8, 4, 6, 2 becomes 1,

2, 4, 3, 1. That way you get more repeats of the plaid across the design. You can also get more repeats by moving to a higher count fabric.

You don't have to make something totally square. You could, for example, baste the outline of a scottie dog on the background fabric and just fill in the dog's shape, then pull the basting and lay down some outline (or cut it out and stuff it, etc.). I did a stocking with a blank oval in the plaid that had a teddy bear in it.

Have fun--make up your own plaids in wild colors. Toss in metallics for accent. Get crazy!

Monique in TX

THANK you Monique! That's exactly the instructions I was after!

Old botanists never die: they just vegetate.

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I would dearly LOVE to do this for my family tartans and for friends. Can you recommend a BOOK that has the weaving setts in it for the various tartans? I've never seen or heard of such a reference. But I'd sure like to!

Thank you in advance for your help .. warm hugs,

Maggie in beautiful suburban Novi, MI where right now .. the brand new LOOM is competing with the needle!

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Maggie, There is a soft cover book called "Needlepoint Plaids" by Marion Broome Pakula which has a full chapter of Scotch Plaids which could easily be adapted to cross stitch. It may be hard to find as it was first published in 1975 by Crown Publishers, Inc., in NY, but maybe you could find it on Ebay or at one of the larger libraries like Birmingham, Southfield, or Royal Oak. I'd let you have my copy but I do use it still.

Kathy, who lived in Novi and Wixom and now in Interlochen, MI where the snow finally is 95% gone.

There are kits for many tartans on these websites:

Bruce

Go to this site:

a pretty good representation of many clan tartans. It's not done in exactly the way the traditional setts are, but it's a good way of describing and recording them for use in fabrics. I think you could work out the CS pattern from what's given. I'd offer to do it for you, only I'm pretty busy for the foreseeable future. Anyway, have a look and see what you can make of it. HTH,