:: Winter 2006 
Advice
Weave a Tartan Shawl
Try your hand at weaving a tartan shawl. Using a tartan guide like The Tartan Weaver’s Guide, by James D. Scarlett (see Review), look through the patterns and choose one that you would like to make. The tartan in the photograph is MacLaine of Lochbuie. It calls for the following colors: red, green, aqua, and yellow.
When weaving a tartan twill, it is best to beat when the shed is open, so that the weft thread will be pushed back as far as possible. Change the shed at the beat and send the shuttle back across the warp. Follow the order of colors in the warp as you weave, and you will see the same pattern emerge as the fabric is woven.
Traditionally, wool fibre is used for the weaving of tartans. It is interesting to note, however, that cotton fibre can also be quite attractive in a woven tartan.