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.
Black Watch
7*. 10. 16. 25. 38.70 |
Royal Stewart
7*. 10. 16. 25. 40.70. |
Pride of Bannockburn
7. 10. 16. 25. 38 |
Modern Douglas
7. 10. 16. 25 |
Ancient Douglas
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
Dress Stewart
7. 10.16.25.40 .70. |
Campbell (of Argyll)
7. 10. 16. 25. 40.70 |
MacKenzie (modern)
7. 10. 16. 25. 38.70 |
Flower of Scotland
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
MacGregor
7. 10. 16. 25. 40.70 |
Cameron
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
Cameron of Erracht
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Lindsay
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
Menzies
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. 70 |
Gordon
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
Rose
10. 16. 25. 40.70 |
Fraser
7. 10. 16. 25. 40.70 |
Buchanan
7. 10. 16. 25. 40.70 |
MacDonald
7. 10. 16. 25. 40. |
MacKean
10 16. 24. 36. |
Macbeth
12. 38. |
Blackberry (Similar to Burberry)
7. 10. 16.25 |
Rangers F.C.
16. 25. |
Hibernian F.C.
16. 25. |
Pride of Scotland (Modern)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (Ancient)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (Highland)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (Autumn)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (Silver)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (Hunting)
10. 16. 25. |
Pride of Scotland (Gold)
10. 16. 25. |
Pride of Scotland (Platinum)
10. 16. 25. 38. |
Pride of Scotland (National)
10. 16. 25. |
Pride of Scotland (Wales)
10. 16. 25. |
Pride of Scotland (Ireland)
10. 16. 25. |
Anderson
10. 16. 24. 36. 72 |
MacDonnell
10. 16. 24. 36. 72 |
Irish National
7. 10. 16. 25.40 |
MacKean
10. 16. 24. 36. 72 |
Cornish National
10. 16. 25.38 |
Raspberry
7. 10. 16. 25. |
Blueberry (blue fashion)
7. 10. 16. 25. |
Kemp
10. 16. 24. 36. 72. |
Waverley
16. |
Colquhoun
16 |
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.