Registered Tartan with the Scottish Register of Tartans

What started out as a University research project for a new tartan design has now become a full fledged passion and career aspiration.

Under the instruction of Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser, I'm learning how to weave tartans on a treadle loom (signed by famed UK weaver Jason P. Collingwood!) as well as how to use a warping board to arrange my yarns in specific order for weaving. The use of technology and machinery is undoubtedly faster, but there is just something that draws me to the skill and craft of hand weaving tartans.

I used merino wool from Australia for this project, but my favorite textile by far is Harris Tweed from the Hybrids of Scotland. All Harris Tweed is woven on a treadle loom at an islander’s home, and I'm excited to be learning this process myself. I would be thrilled to see the process of how this is done in Scotland. That is my dream.

The design, prep and set up was very extensive. Apparently this is a complex pattern for a first time weaving project, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge. My goal was to finish a 14x24” scarf, with leftover yarn to weave a sample to be sent in to the Scottish Register of Tartans.

I’m very interested in tartans and textiles, and I would like to continue exploring options on how I can turn this passion into a career. This project took me longer than expected, but it feels so rewarding to have it finished and accepted into the Scottish Register of Tartans in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am deeply honored to have my tartan design accepted into the registry. I couldn't have done it without the guidance of Carol Leigh and the initial spark from the University of Missouri's Textile and Apparel Management Department.