World's WORST Tartans?

You asked for it! We discuss the tartans we hate hate hate and why.
SHIELD YOUR EYES!
What makes a tartan ugly?
What is the ugliest tartan ever designed?
What happened to the Commonwealth Games tartan?
What is it like sewing a bad tartan into a kilt?
How do you avoid bad tartan design if you are creating a custom tartan?
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[@brucecooperphoto]

Shepherd's Check is the Northumbrian tartan. It is also the official plaid for pipers of the Northumberland Fusiliers and is nowadays commonly worn by Northumbrian pipers.

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

Thanks, bruce! Mac DID eventually find the word Rocky was looking for... Northumbrian. :-)

[@DamiettadCarnivalle]

As an Armstrong, and a weaver, I hold that there are no cringe-worthy tartans . . . Except those worn by the guy trying to shoot you for stealing his cattle!

[@heatherlennox3695]

I prefer all the ancient tartan colours. If you get into the highlands and see the colour of the landscape, you can see how the tartans are meant to emulate the colours and act almost as highland camouflage. I like that a lot more. So bright colours are out for me.

[@Backs4more]

It’s nothing to do with trying to emulate the landscape. The dyes used to colour the thread were made from natural products. They could not get bright dyes, everything was muted, and hence older tartans are softer, browns, greens, blues and yellows.

[@DavidFraser007]

Well, I'm thinking about a kilt with glow in the dark colours, luminous blues and oranges with a dash of lemon. I had a few close misses when I was staggering home from the pub last month.

[@Whatlander]

Knockoff Isle of Sky is basically my grasp of color theory VS other illustrators, and also the reason I stick to black and white as much as possible. I LOVE color. I just shouldn't be left with it unsupervised when choosing a palette.

[@richiehoyt8487]

When I was a kid, my Mam wallpapered our kitchen (the room we all spent most of our time in9) from floor to ceiling in navy and white check, something like that Rob Roy check only, you know, in dark blue. This was uncharacteristic of her as her tastes were normally very restrained. I can only assume that the check as it appeared in the swatch or sample book or whatever looked relatively discreet and didn't sufficiently get across the effect on the eye (and the brain) it would have when writ large on a wall... which was a bit like looking at one of those 'Magic Eye' pictures that would become popular in the '90's but without the benefit of a phantom image resolving out into the Statue of Liberty standing proud in New York harbour, say, or a trio of dolphins cavorting amongst the waves and as such felt like the psychological equivalent of an interrupted yawn, _indescribably_ frustrating! Many was the time I was sat at the table eating my cornflakes when I would suddenly become aware that I had entered a trance like state where the wall I was looking at alternated between feeling like it was a foot - and - a - half away, or ¾ of a mile... and like my brain might very easily futz into an epileptic fit if I didn't 'snap out it!!

[@Absolutely_Cece]

I love you work! I bought a Makenzie shawl and Sash and love wearing them.

[@thewanderer1598]

My family is from wales and we have a nice tartan Griffiths for any curious

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

is this tartans like those that,make you fall in love?

[@hannofranz7973]

It seems that these guys can name every single tartan. Amazing!

[@mechellturner3915]

Love my Montgomery Tartan, and got a little patch of the Mc Millian, but way to bright. Im in it but not crazy about the DAR tartan scarf. My husbands Lamont is pretty nice.

[@csluau5913]

I really enjoy a lot of your videos you guys crack me up. The black-and-white small set plaid that you’re talking about is called several things. It’s called shepherds plaid, Northumberland, Falkirk, border Reivers, and some people have called it hounds tooth or border check. Here was me thinking a border check was where they stop you and ask for your ID and your passport :-). That particular pattern although the set was a bit larger what is the oldest pattern in the British Isles. A swatch of the fabric was found stuffed into an ancient jar full of Roman coins from 320 A.D. It was basically just like a tweet a rough basic plaid made of dark and light ships well that was unbleached or undyed. Don’t think they made much of it back then. I’m very fond of the tweets and I’m not a massive fan of most of the Titans but there are a few that are eye-catching. I am supposedly associated with clan Dunbar but I’m not very fond of their chart and I’m afraid :-( Anyway it looks like I’m going to be buying a kilt in the next few months because I lost a bet with a friend of mine :-( my penance is I must wear a kilt at the next Highland games in my local state. He says once I get used to it I like it but I’m not so sure yet. I’m asked military and I’ve seen a few people wear them in the military but I’ve never worn one. I guess we’ll see. Keep up the good work and all the laughs it’s making me a bit less nervous about trying to put on a kilt watching all your videos.

[@user-pe9gz8si8k]

Most muted colors were used as hunting tartans so as not to stand out. In most houses there is a dress tartan for gatherings and official functions

[@Jabrwock]

I was going to ask about Saskatchewan's tartan, because I've seen it in bright yellow, but then I saw the official pattern, and the copy I saw originally was probably done like you said, by someone who used garish thread when weaving.

[@Tfichtenbaum]

Second question , I am of polish decent and would love to incorporate the colors of the polish flag which are red and white .. how would I make a tartan out of that since it's very straightforward, is there a tartan that uses only red and white , I wouldn't want to be accidentally wearing a clan tartan if I am not of the clan .

[@haroldthomas9423]

I am enjoying the videos, even though I do not own a kilt. I remember an old tartan book that misrepresented the Campbell of Argyll tartan as having a yellow background. That and the green plaid came off quite loud. A lifelong resident of Ohio, I like the Ogilvie of Inverquarharty (Ohio District) tartan. The USA Kilts Ohio tartan is nice, but the Ogilvie really brings out the colors of our state seal.

[@BradenMacLeod]

I just watched this out of curiosity as a proud MacLeod of Lewis..... I was wondering when you would get to the Loud MacLeod! LMAO!!!

[@staceypaquette5483]

I like the Macleod of Lewis tartan

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@@staceypaquette5483 Me too!

[@lindataylor2131]

My dad can wear the Macomb/Malcolm plaid. His sirname is Malcolm. But I can not see him in a kilt. LOL. He has a nice jacket made out of the plaid, but he would never wear a kilt. I believe my uncle, his twin brother, though has worn a kilt on a trip to Scotland. My dad, by the way, is 87 years old.

[@deansansburn3523]

I have a wool, Jacobite tartan bow tie. I think it looks good!

[@lachlangow8003]

The Shepherd's Tartan - I think it was also known as the Buccleuch Tartan which was worn by pipers of a volunteer battalion (4th ?) of the King's Own Scottish Borderers in WW1.

[@Culloden-1745]

Ogilvie has so many lines that it makes me cross-eyed. MacLeod of Lewis just hurts my eyes.

[@angebrowne1730]

Remember that the dyes used today are chemical and can be garish. The original Thompson blue was a softer vegetable shade and much better, for instance. Oh, and the thin yellow line was almost mustard.

[@owenwolfco.8344]

Knowing Ogilvie being difficult for the weavers to make, it’s kind of an in-between. I appreciate it’s complexity, but is it too complex?

[@wullyreid7645]

Hi guys, love the videos. You mention the 2014 Commonwealth tartan but the one that is even worse is the team tartan from that event. It is one of the most god awful things I have ever seen

[@Backs4more]

That was produced by Lochcarron Mill. Absolutely bogging.

[@pipsheppard6747]

I thought MacAlister Ancient would have made the list! At least my surname tartan (Shepherd) wan't the first one mentioned.

[@stacygirard647]

you might find me wird but i like bold color i do like buchanan and the one you said i dint hate them , i like bright un usual color t hat how i like it but i do like also more muted , but there is not many tartan i dont like , i do like and have it the loud macleod (aka macleod of lewis), and i want one day to get also the cornish tartan( wish is mainly yellow and black but with white and red line mixed to it

[@Azzameen99AZ]

Maybe a weird question, but what's your opinion on the McDuck tartan that Disney copyrighted in 1942-ish? I looked it up as a joke, because I had read some Scrooge McDuck adventures, and then learned it's real and in the registry and everything.

[@cammysmith7562]

My personal favourite tartan is hunting Stewart tartan may be a bit bias due to being from clan Stewart.

[@unrealrailway1592]

D c dalgiesh are the last tartan artisans in the world, really reccomend them. Edit: they use natural materials.

[@kerry00]

What’s the best color of tweed jacket to wear with a red kilt?

[@alexandercrichton1779]

Pick a secondary colour of the tartan. Green, blue, black, etc. That becomes the primary clout of the jacket. You can't go wrong with a houndstooth check.

[@alexandercrichton1779]

*primary colour

[@ianagar868]

Really very interesting. However that background music is distracting,

[@bloodreport146]

what is the best tartans of the last 5 years?

[@Tfichtenbaum]

I love the colors of the isle of Skye tartan , can I as an american with no Scottish heritage ( I am of slavic decent) wear this ?

[@JulieWallis1963]

Tiffany Fichtenbaum anyone can wear any tartan. Families have their own tartan, so I would choose the Wallace tartan if I was buying, but that’s tradition. If I want, I ^can^ wear any pattern. Buy your tartan and enjoy it.

[@Whatlander]

As I understand it, wearing tartan is closer in practice to wearing a sports jersey to support your favorite team. Nobody would yell at you for not actually *being* the athlete whose colors you're wearing. They'd understand you're showing your appreciation of that team. (Even if you're mostly just appreciating the "uniform" itself ;D ) The fact that you can rattle off the name and meaning of the Skye tartan to anyone who might be curious is even better, I would think.

[@lorimusic1026]

Tiffany Fichtenbaum no no no

[@smacwhinnie]

Yes, if you can buy it, you can wear it

[@underthesign1]

You can do what you like, but there are also a lot of modern tartans with no clan associations to choose from

[@adamabele785]

Neon pink, neon yellow and violet, that would mix well.

[@user-xs5hk1tt9p]

what about the Culloden Tartan

[@timothycook7388]

Im gunna order a couple eight yard kilts in shephards check, just for you mack

[@richiethemage2646]

Northumberland tartan. I live there and no one wears it except on soccer days.

[@malgremor85]

I’ve seen a muted (ancient?) Buchanan that was actually quite nice. I’d wear it myself(if I had no other choice).

[@TheMongo1357]

I need a lightweight wool (not acrylic!!) Kilt in Ancient MACDOUGALL......

[@toranshaw4029]

Just seeing that Shepherds tartan, on screen, hurt my eyes. It’s almost like an optical illusion, lol.

[@DorkyThorpy]

I like the Jacobite!

[@PoetGorman]

The key for a true Celt of any stripe: "colors found in nature"

[@unrealrailway1592]

Colours. Sorry, just had to. You can guess where I am from.

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

@@unrealrailway1592 England,probably

[@unrealrailway1592]

@@maximilianolimamoreira5002 you got me, I have Scottish and Breton heritage too though, among other things.

[@toddwebb7521]

I definitely feel like any of the ones where the main 2 colors are red and green look more like a Christmas decoration than a tartan when in Modern pallete even though they look good in weathered, ancient, or muted.

[@bernardclaret8332]

Certains tartans par leurs couleurs et imprimé font penser davantage à du madras des Antilles que du tissus écossais !

[@ThornForTheWynn]

I think it can depend. I actually prefer the Hay tartan in modern, but I think it's because of the white stripe. MacQuarrie is definitely more palatable in ancient or muted though, however I still don't care for it. MacNaughton is only good in ancient to me.

[@Cailean_MacCoinnich]

MacLeod of Lewis. If it's your genuine clan tartan then it looks amazing. But it also needs to be worn well, else it can look like a little girls school uniform.

[@stoutyyyy]

I looked up the scout tartan that the guy mentioned, I personally don’t think it’s that bad

[@ditch1776]

It favors the Webelos scarf.

[@scotthalladay2210]

How you not get a Pakistan kilt?

[@kiltedpatriotatheart]

Im going to step in here as someone who is NOT a fan of Loud MacLeod. I never liked the color yellow a whole lot It has its place, but not on a kilt!!

[@jorisridderdevanderschuere1830]

I have my own family colours, can you design a tartan or do I have to design a tartan myself?

[@janellpowell8044]

Dude that tartan is cool

[@jorisridderdevanderschuere1830]

@@janellpowell8044 I know but that are the colours of a family, I have my own colours, my family arms, that's what you get when you belong to a countries aristocracy, I hope I do not have to explain that???

[@bloodreport146]

you should check out the colourful "World Wide Web 30th Anniversary" tartan and the simplistic "Internet 30th Anniversary" tartan" :-)

[@pipsheppard6747]

Wow! Now THAT is GREEN!

[@bloodreport146]

@@pipsheppard6747 there is no green in it

[@andrewbeattieRAB]

Is that the Macbeth on the left guy?? That’s my family’s tartan.

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

Rocky (Left) is wearing a custom weave... the Federal Memorial tartan.

[@kevinhendryx665]

I'd like to see an official Crayola Tartan, one that uses all 64 colors from the crayon box. That might rule the world of ugly tartans.

[@mr.cat_boiof_soviet_russia5801]

I am from clan Kennedy so and I am also apart of all the uk so Ireland,Scotland,Wales and England but mostly English and Scottish

[@michaeldukes4108]

MacLeod’s gotta be in there! 😅

[@techfriendscustomerservice6289]

I was married to man of the Buchanan clan...not only is his tartan ugly.....😤

[@ryanhenderson4686]

Hate to say, my national tartan, Canadian Tartan However the best ones are my Province, the New Brunswick Tartan, or the one new to us, Nova Scotia. My family Tartan is beautiful, Henderson.

[@staceypaquette5483]

The Nova Scotia one is beautiful.

[@kilted_scottish_laddie864]

it’s strange seeing my culture being so spread. but also prideful. my wee country gets about like.

[@angebrowne1730]

There are Central European families who have tartans, many the same and similar to the Scotch tartans. Ancient tartan was found in Iraq. Also two tartans found with the mummies of the Tarim Basin, one almost identical to one of my paternal paternal line. The Tarim Basin has only been a part of China around 200 years. The white Caucasoid race came out of ancient Sumaria, it appears. You can trace migrations of peoples backwards on a world map as I did, rather than taking the word of experts who can never agree anyway. You learn a fair bit about etymology and ancient texts as you do that. An interesting exercise that strips away modern PC paradigms.

[@staghornthedruid957]

you can put the Coast Guard tartan on that list for me. They missed the mark and made it red white and blue instead of orange white and blue which are our actual colors.

[@mikesands4681]

I expected a barrage of bad choices.

[@cwo2mdfay]

Any tartan with yellow as the dominant color is hideous.

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

even MacLeod?

[@MrDunvegandunvegan]

As a MacLeod, I can stand that yellow monstrosity.

[@Saw_Squatch]

Honestly I see it way too much being involved in Highland Games and I'd say the USA tartan. I love this country but that bright blue and reds just weren't made to look good

[@gerrynewnham9932]

My pet hates are the garish dress tartans used by competitors in highland dancing competitions, such as Buchanan Dress Blue (Dance): www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=424 and also MacLeod of Lewis.

[@samaraisnt]

The "Royal Stewart Tartan" is so ugly and loud but apparently that's what you're supposed to wear in Scotland when you don't have a clan....might as well not wear a kilt, tbh.

[@angebrowne1730]

Hahahah agreed.

[@fractal_3]

@3:40 Looks like google colors. If google had a tartan

[@gilbertfergusson844]

We need to wear kilts without ridicule from people who don’t always look great themselves

[@imsaint007]

What’s your opinion about someone wearing a kilt and no heritage connection.

[@em.142]

Sergio Santos the kilt is a Scottish cultural item. If you wouldn’t wear the cultural garb of any other culture to which you belong then you shouldn’t wear the kilt. Wear some other similar garment like a toga or whatever but don’t call it a kilt. The kilt making companies will tel you it’s 100% fine but, they’re trying to sell kilts. Mind you nobody will ever get really mad at you for it but if you don’t have a reason that it’s rather distasteful to wear a kilt.

[@imsaint007]

McCracken I agree 100% with you , I did know that I had Scottish descendentes until I had a Ancestry.com DNA test and for my surprise my grand grand mother was born in Scotland and married my grand grand father that was Portuguese . So that been said I’m Scottish Portuguese Brazilian American and I love to ware kilts .

[@underthesign1]

Kilts are practical and look good on every man, so their wearing should be encouraged. But choose a leather or non-Tartan wool kilt--that way you won't have to pretend you're a clan member

[@ivanthemadvandal8435]

Honestly, I've known many people from the local highland games and other such events and have never found a single person who'd have an issues with someone wearing their family tartan, just show some respect and don't claim to actually be a member of the clan and you'll be fine.

[@la_old_salt2241]

Wear your choice and be happy. Just educate yourself about that tartan and/or clan so you can discuss the history behind it when asked. And just don't sell yourself as a member of the clan you happen to enjoy wearing. Plus, there are many universal tartans available for folks with no clan affiliation.

[@johncee1481]

Some of the contemporary corporate ones.

[@IanPattisonOakville]

Worst tartan I've ever seen is the Compaq corporate tartan. STA Ref: 1888

[@felixsmith659]

4:44 that is not tartan that is a tweed pattern not a tartan pattern

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

It's actually one of the oldest tartans, known as the Shepherd's Check or the Falkirk tartan. It's listed in the Scottish Tartan Register here: www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=3781

[@hortondlfn1994]

It's not fair to mention tartans without showing examples. Do you think we have them all memorized?

[@Tipi_Dan]

Since it is too difficult to hate colorful piece of woven cloth I will say what I like, and look for, in a tartan. No white threads. Rich natural colors. Sometimes modern is best, sometimes weathereds or ancients are desirable. Rich reds, greens, and blues. No garish colors. Contrasts between lights and darks--- the weave should remain visible at different distances. Overall, colors and patterns that would look good out in nature.

[@jerrynunley9956]

Does that mean y’all are gone hate me when I order an 8yard in Sheherds tartan? Lol… oh and with the fly plaid!!!!

[@ichabod0391]

Clan Chattan is kind of garish...

[@MandyJMaddison]

Menzies green...... dazzling

[@felixodriscoll720]

The knockoff isle of sky tartan looks like a pride tartan.

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

kind of,but i find it hideous as well,it's too flashy for my aesthetical eyes,gosh.

[@micregil]

My family's tartan looks similar to the one the guy on the right is wearing.

[@derekmcnulty2559]

Hunting MacGregor?

[@room2180]

My tartan, Registered last week, is pretty ugly. Its vey dark, with a splash of pink. This was made in honor of a friend, who took her own life. And, she Hated pink...so this is her punishment.

[@kevinhendryx665]

There are a lot of truly ugly tartans out there, esp. among the recent creations.

[@donburns7348]

My least favorite tartan is: American Bicentennial Tartan. Its colors are bright red, blue and white; based on the USA flag. Also, I have never liked the Robert Burns Tartan, which has small brown, black and white checks.

[@Hope-un5wv]

You sew your kilts with a machine?

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

Yes. That's how the VAST majority of kilts (Scotland or otherwise) are sewn today.

[@Hope-un5wv]

@@USAKiltsOfficial Ok Just a bit shocked as my family always sent our kilts out to be hand made so naturally this is the first time I have ever heard that people now use machines.

[@thehorror7135]

yeah, you lecture them kids for using bright colours on their kilt design lol. :)

[@TheKyleMark]

They had to put in real effort not to say Buchanan. It’s okay guys. It’s Buchanan. We all know it’s Buchanan. There’s a reason the word “brighter” is in the motto.

[@derekmcnulty2559]

Haha. Totally agree. MacMillan is a SLIGHTLY nicer similar tartan.

[@andrewbeattieRAB]

Yeah, I thought of it too. My mom’s family, Burnett, ain’t no tartan prize - zero imagination.

[@sparkster1374]

I'm Clan Innes. The tartan for people who can't pick a color!

[@sarahmackenzie07]

Oh god, I had to google it. Yea it's bad >.

[@brianbuchanan3584]

Boo I am a Buchanan and I wear it loud and proud!!!!

[@JamesW7723]

I know you are entitled to your opinion but please don’t make fun of my families tartan Lmao shepherds check is for OG’s

[@chrisjustus5446]

IT MAY BE THE NORTHUMBERLAND DISTRICT TARTAN.

[@jonathanmartin-ives8665]

I hate the tartan that's supposed to represent my family (Martin). So I just wear grey 🤣

[@janellpowell8044]

Dude that tartan is cool

[@jonathanmartin-ives8665]

@@janellpowell8044 Are we talking about the same tartan? The one I found was basically too much yellow. What did you come up with? If you could send me a link, I'd really appreciate it 🖖

[@jonathanmartin-ives8665]

@Hoa Tattis Lol - thank you!

[@solomonthefool9008]

i was not prepared for a anime face in a tartan video

[@casparfraser2336]

Clan Fraser for the fooken win

[@babyinuyasha]

The Commonwealth tartan actually looks good to me

[@kiltedjohn1000]

Without any doubt Macleod of Lewis

[@nokoolaid]

Is Buchanan too much?

[@Crash64100]

As a Buchanan, I’ll say hell no! Though I do prefer the muted tones of the ancient vs the brighter, modern tartan

[@nokoolaid]

@@Crash64100 I have the muted version.

[@alexandercrichton1779]

Not if you can get it on sale🤣

[@TheSvartulfr]

Buchanan is very busy with its asymmetry but the ancient old Buchanan is beautiful as its symmetrical.

[@akioutsunomiya4343]

Anderson tartan loud..

[@damonturnbull5903]

I must admit the Turnbull Dress Tartan is ugly I much prefer the Turnbull Hunting Tartan.

[@LordReptile0]

And i believed my whole life, the sheppards check are for scarfs from Palestine... 🤦

[@kinglyzard]

Houndstooth.

[@fluffycat702]

Do women ever wear kilts?

[@petebock7021]

Fluffy Cat there is a Kilted skirt for women.

[@drakesomerset129]

Well not kilts, but you can wear a kilted skirt

[@kerry00]

I’m a woman piper and wear the same pipeband gear as the guys do.

[@TheSvartulfr]

Women in a pipeband do.

[@gemista]

Unfortunately, my family tartan, the Anderson, is just hideous!

[@MandyJMaddison]

The Anderson is a grand tartan, after you have worn it in the weather for ten years so it has mellowed.

[@underthesign1]

I disagree! Perhaps you don't like blue

[@roymartin8507]

I dislike this one which is at the other end of the 'garish' scale, & that's the one created to 'honour' our national rugby (union) team in NZ - the 'All Black' tartan; as the name suggests, it's black on black - even up close it's just a black tartan, REALLY, WHY? I'm yet to find anyone who has a kilt of this.

[@marilyngandhi4213]

Houndstooth

[@derekmcnulty2559]

Buchanan

[@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373]

All tartans are modern 19th cent