It has been a good amount of time since I have done a traditional tartan. I love the colors of the Forbes Tartan and to have the opportunity to make one again is wonderful!
Making the custom Tartans are fun also. It gives you an idea of the persons character you are making it for. That is also how I name them. Giggles was make for a very sweet and fun girl who loves bright vivid color. The Heart Warmer was made for a man who has a rich personality and a very strong and loyal family bond. Spending about 4 months on each of these, you bond with your craft and really gain an appreciation for each personality you come in contact with.
The traditional Tartans give you a very clear perspective on the clan itself. I enjoy doing my research on clans before I start making the tartan because, like the Forbes clan, other clans may have many tartan patterns to choose from. Unless the client gives me a specific tartan they would like, I just pick my favorite one. Most of the tartans for each clan use the same colors, but sometimes you may find a clan that has 4 or 5 tartans in a variety of colors.
