Thistle and Cloth

I hope everyone who went had a great time at Belladrum this weekend! The sun has still got his hat on today, so here’s a sunny day happy picture featuring the eyecatching Macfarlane Tartan! ☀️

What a beautiful sunny day!! I’m making the most of a peaceful morning and stitching, a view to kilt to!!

It’s been a busy busy week, having finished the pleating, it’s time to check measurements and then cut away the excess behind the pleats. Then it’s one of my favourite parts of the Kiltmaking process, basting the pleats to ensure they hold their position down the length of the kilt during the making process prior to being pressed, it’s when it starts to look like a kilt!

We had a fantastic day out yesterday, as big fans of Thomas the Tank engine my boys were extremely excited to go on the steam train. It was lovely to catch up with Diana and see her in the kilt i made for her! The cloth is Macrae Red Modern which was extremely challenging due it it’s large set size, but very rewarding to see it on, especially as it was paired with her Grandads matching tie!

I’m always looking for ways of using up left over lengths of cloth, and I just love these roses!!! 🌹 wouldn’t they make a great lasting bouquet??

Having spent last weekend down at Scone Palace, it seemed fitting to then start marking out a kilt using the Stone of Destiny Cloth from . It’s always a bit of a milestone when you see the pleats coming together to reform the pattern of the set, and you are in a rhythm of “fold it, pin it, baste it!”

Congratulations to .smith483 who has just been announced as the Salmon Queen of the Kyle of Sutherland gala this year! How appropriate that here she is wearing the Holyrood tartan, designed in 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation! I hope you have a great time being Queen!!

This wee chap is animal mad, and he’s absolutely besotted with “Twixie”, who thankfully is very gentle with him, he used to clamber on her lying down when he was younger!! Doesn’t he just look the part in his matching waistcoat and saddle pad from made from Macfarlane Ancient Huntjng tartan!

It’s always a pleasure to get to see a kilt I’ve made in its finished state!! What a picture, just a man and his dog walking in the Borders with a menacing sky overhead!!

We have had lots of fun so far! Come along to visit us at stand G25 on the Osprey Row! You might even get to meet my new friend, isn’t she gorgeous!!

I’ve had such a fantastic time this weekend and managed to have a wander round the whole event, absolutely loved the Highland pony Display which reminded me of the amazing pictures from and this gorgeous shot! The hues of the Auld Scotland Tartan complement the colours of the floor of the forest. I’m hoping when my little boy grows up he wants one as much as I do!!

Last week felt like stepping back in time to my days in the RAF! The Lossiemouth Voluntary Jazz 5 had the privilege to play for the fundraiser which we all really enjoyed, it was a great chance to get out and play some tunes!! The audience seemed to enjoy us too!

Nearly there…. Just on the last few stages of making this Kilt in Muted Ross Tartan. Very privileged to have the chance to make a kilt for our local Ardross Pipe band. Having played next to pipe bands for years as a trombonist it’s lovely to have a chance to reconnect with one!

Getting all the finishing touches ready for this weekend!! Dresses on show and available to order can be made from 100% wool woven in Scotland!! Thanks to for the lovely labels and helping in the design!!

Very excited to be exhibiting this year!! Why not pop in to try on one of our lovely tartan wrap dresses which will be available to buy and order!

Taking a stylish walk along Dornoch beach in a co-ordinating ensemble, not just a gorgeous Mackenzie Pinafore dress, but a new twist on my previous wrap dress (it can be worn backwards!!) and the handmade saddle to match!!

Another quick snap from our recent shoot featuring a beautiful Scotland Forever tartan, in the Antique version from .its a great spot to visit if you are up on holiday for during the summer, one of the best places to see the famous salmon leaping!!

Such a privilege to be on the cover of the latest edition of the Kyle Chronicle!! Thanks again to for all of her fabulous images which have made my website what it is!! Please get in touch for any requests!

Must be getting close to a busy busy season, very excited to be having a stand this year, 5-7th July . I will have a selection of dresses available and a catalogue of fabric to choose made to order garments!! Looking forward to seeing some of you there!

Officially the most popular tartan, the Classic Royal Stewart Tartan, here shown in a fantastic moody shot which really makes the red pop! Historically it was selected by Sir Walter Scott in 1822 for King George IV’s visit to Edinburgh, which was a show of pageantry and tartan never seen before. Its lasting influence is seen by the use of tartan all over the world today!

Making progress on my current kilts…. This is the primary canvas after it’s been hand stitched across the back pleated section. The canvas fabric is traditionally made from horsehair, used for its strength! It is one of my favourite parts of the kilt making process, a nice soothing stitching session! This kilt is in Muted Ross tartan, for the Ardross pipe band!

There is nothing better than a sunny day out at the beach, especially with your best friend!! Such a beautiful relationship between this special pair! Featuring another hand crafted bespoke tartan saddle by this time in the Mackenzie Modern tartan from to give the ultimate Scottish touch of class to any riding ensemble!

I wanted to try and provide a few different options of my wrap dress, so I have been experimenting with different types of cloth, this version, here modelled beautifully by .watt is the Macrae tartan but using a fabric which can be popped in the washing machine! Perfect for those mucky festival days! Thanks again to for this fabulous image!

Summer is just around the corner, that means it’s nearly time to get ready for festival season…. How about a tartan wrap dress to party in Scottish Style? Here shown in the Clan Fraser tartan made popular by the Outlander TV show!

Looking for some inspiration to give a stylish performance in the show ring? What do you think of this combination of Smart Tweed and Tartan, waistcoat, kilt, Jacket complete with co-ordinating saddle pad from Pony pads! Tartan and tweed can be a popular choice, so why not give it a whirl, get in touch with any queries as all items are made to order!!

One of the many questions asked upon a first consultation for a kilt is often “how would you like to pleated” which often gets a lot of blank looks! Here is an example of pleating to the stripe, where one line is chosen and this is repeated for every pleat. Traditionally used in military kilts for its more striking and uniform appearance! It’s fascinating how pleating the same cloth in different ways can give such a varied look! Here young Murtagh is taking in the view over the North East coast of Scotland, can you spot the Famous Castle??