Azem.Ocram
King
Let’s talk about the Scottish pattern commonly referred to as Tartan or Plaid. What do you call it? Do you like it? Do you wear it? Care to tell us anything about this type of pattern?
What do you call the Scottish pattern of multi-colored criss-crossed horizontal & vertical bands?
- Thread starter Azem.Ocram
- Start date
Hygro
soundcloud.com/hygro/
I too browse reddit. I still call it plaid.
I don't wear Scottish tartans, but I do regularly wear an Irish one. I have a lovely skirt and scarf made of my family tartan that I wear for special events and occasions. Otherwise, if I wear one, it's just a common one similar to the one from my school uniform growing up.
sophie
Break My Heart
Plaid for me
pc +1
pc +1
EnglishEdward
Deity
If the design looks like something representing a Scottish clan and is worn by a man, I refer to it as Tartan.
Otherwise if not clan like, and worn by a girl, I refer to it as Plaid.
Otherwise if not clan like, and worn by a girl, I refer to it as Plaid.
Zkribbler
Deity
I call it a plaid. I might call it a tartan if ever I could remember that word.
Lemon, your family has its own tartan? That is so cool.
Lemon, your family has its own tartan? That is so cool.
Broken_Erika
Play with me.
This is my tartan
Yes it does.Lemon, your family has its own tartan? That is so cool.
brennan
Argumentative Brit
The fabric pattern is called tartan. Plaid is a piece of clothing.
I think calling the pattern "plaid" is firmly an Americanism. I've only ever heard it referred to as tartan here, regardless of whether it's an official clan tartan or not.
"Flannel" as in flannel shirt refers to the material, not the pattern. Sure, tartan-style flannel shirts are popular, but the terms are not synonymous.
I wasn't aware of the the Gaelic term breacan before reading this, so I guess I've learned something today.
"Flannel" as in flannel shirt refers to the material, not the pattern. Sure, tartan-style flannel shirts are popular, but the terms are not synonymous.
I wasn't aware of the the Gaelic term breacan before reading this, so I guess I've learned something today.
Perfection
The Great Head.
hipster crisscross
I think calling the pattern "plaid" is firmly an Americanism. I've only ever heard it referred to as tartan here, regardless of whether it's an official clan tartan or not.
"Flannel" as in flannel shirt refers to the material, not the pattern. Sure, tartan-style flannel shirts are popular, but the terms are not synonymous.
I wasn't aware of the the Gaelic term breacan before reading this, so I guess I've learned something today.
Flannel might as well refer to the pattern here, it's 100% synonymous if not actually the same. And it's only ever on shirts, you wouldn't say flannel skirt or dress or anything except shirt or maybe jacket.
google image search "flannel" and tell me if you get anything other than a mandatory plaid pattern.
edit: wrote some things wrong, included examples.
Last edited:
Broken_Erika
Play with me.
I can't believe no one has posted this here yet
Azem.Ocram
King
Breacan is the most accurate term. Flannel is a type of fabric with a specific quality originally made of wool but nowadays more often made with cotton instead but with similar properties. Tartan originally referred to a type of wool fabric that could be plain, monochrome died, or with a multi-colored sett. Since Tartan sounds kinda like breacan, tartan grew to be used to refer to both and now is used as a synonym to sett (the pattern).
A blanket made out of wool flannel with a sett pattern is at once tartan, plaid, flannel, and breacan.
A blanket made out of wool flannel with a sett pattern is at once tartan, plaid, flannel, and breacan.
Azem.Ocram
King
Personally, I call clothing with a sett ‘flannel’ and call setts ‘plaid.’ I now know I’m wrong but I don’t feel bad because tartan (the official term) is also wrong. I have some pairs of flannel pajama bottoms, one of which is synthetic fleece. I also have some flannel shirts, most made of the same cotton as normal button-down shirts, one or 2 with short sleeves.
MagisterCultuum
Great Sage
Flannel is a type of fabric that could be decorated in any pattern, but is very often plaid.
Plaid is the general term for the class of patterns.
Tartan is a specific plaid pattern meant to represent cultural ties to a specific clan.
Plaid is the general term for the class of patterns.
Tartan is a specific plaid pattern meant to represent cultural ties to a specific clan.
Last edited:
Flannel might as well refer to the pattern here, it's 100% synonymous if not actually the same. And it's only ever on shirts, you wouldn't say flannel skirt or dress or anything except shirt or maybe jacket.
google image search "flannel" and tell me if you get anything other than a mandatory plaid pattern.
I certainly do, although I am searching in the UK. In any case at least two of the examples you use to illustrate your point are not tartan/“plaid”
. Checked shirts are not tartan!Before the British government decided to crack down on the Scottish clans in the 1740s by banning it, tartan was just a common type of clothing. After that, it understandably become the national dress. Nevertheless it wasn’t until the 19th century that the tradition of specific tartans for specific clans was established.
That's because you don't have a Gaelic spellchecker.
It's Gaelic. I'm not sure what good a spellchecker would do!
Similar threads
