Tartan Ribbon

One of the most frequent enquiries we receive concerns tartan ribbon and many 'brides-to-be' are disappointed when they discover that the particular tartan they want, just isn't woven! *

Of the thousands of tartans registered with us, only around 40 are produced in ribbon. This obviously means that for anything other than the most popular tartans already available in ribbon, finding your desired tartan ribbon will normally mean finding the closest alternative.
There is only one large tartan ribbon weaver left in the UK and, rather sadly, none left in Scotland. Please note that they only supply to wholesale customers and do not deal direct with the general public.
The range of tartan ribbon and widths available changes constantly as new products arrive and older stocks disappear. This table (correct at Sept. 2011) shows the most popular tartans and widths available through your retailer.

The figures shown under the tartan names are the approximate widths (in millimetres) in which this particular ribbon is produced. If you don't care for foreign measurements, here is a rough comparison: 7mm = 1/4" 10mm = 3/8" 16mm = 5/8" 25mm = 1" 38mm = 1½" 70mm = 2¾". Please note stocks from different weavers vary slightly so, for example, 38mm may be 40mm etc. A 25 metre reel holds approximately 27½ yards.

Availability of tartans in ribbon
If you don't see your desired ribbon among the above - don't despair! Bearing in mind that your use of it may well be in bouquets, buttonholes, favours, flower arrangements or on invitations or the wedding cake, not a great deal of the tartan will be showing and at this small scale, finding a similar alternative always works well. In most cases no-one except a real tartan anorak will notice the difference!

Stockists
Most large department stores will stock a limited range of tartan ribbon as will many fabric shops, florists, garden centres and of course many tartan shops and their online equivalents.

Alternative solution
Although conventional woven polyester ribbon is by far the most popular, there is the alternative of strips of lightweight and medium fabric in over 500 tartans which can be supplied cut into strips and hemmed - these are 54" (137cm) long and widths range from 1" (2.5cm) to 12" (30cm).  Of course the weight of the woollen cloth and 1" minimum width normally make it unsuitable for use on small items like cards or wedding favours but ideal for most other wedding related needs. Do remember that unlike the miniaturised woven ribbons which condense the sett (pattern) into a very small space, these woollen strips just show a tiny slice of the tartan by comparison.

* LATEST NEWS

This problem is now solved with the advent of printed ribbon (shown below) in which small quantities can be produced in ANY tartan - even in your own special wedding design!