Scottish Crofters Tartan

Now this is a new venture for us and a deviation –but only a peedie one- from the basic principle that we only sell what we raise or make here at Garth.

This tartan has been formally registered as the Scottish Crofters tartan. I think that the story of its creation as told by Norman & Evelyn Leask of Anderson & Co, Shetland is the best place to start:

Scottish Crofting Foundation

TARTAN & KNITWEAR

Crofters, the original inhabitants of rural Scotland, live in some of the harshest and most beautiful parts of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Known as ‘the original environmentalists’ crofters have a rich culture which reflects self reliance and a close affinity with the land and the sea. This is found in their music and stories and in the colours of their weaving and knitting.. This tartan reflects the crofting identity and its concern for nature, these colours being some of the original natural dyes. Crofters say “it is about the people” and this is shown in their renowned hospitality and in developing a tartan that anyone with an empathy for crofting can wear with pride.

I am sure you would agree that the pictures here, taken in a variety of settings found here at Garth, do show the affinity of the design with the natural surroundings that Crofters have looked after and preserved for generations.

Items available in the tartan:

• Ties                                                                              £14
• Scarves                                                                         £20
• Travel Rug                                                                   £45
• Tartan Material            (Suitable for kilt making)        £43 per metre

There is also a range of knitwear in co-ordinating colours including a sleeveless sweater as Evelyn doesn’t like doing sleeves!

 OK, so what is our connection with Crofting? Well, while Garth is not formally a croft it is designated as a holding with similar economic status. The rare breeds of animals we keep here owe their very existence to generations of crofters who valued these animals as creatures who fitted into their way of life and their intention to tread lightly on the land so as to preserve it for generations to come. We too work with the land and the animals extensively, believing that nature is too powerful to argue with! All this, along with some encouragement from Norman who was the chairman at the time, lead me to joining the Scottish Crofting Foundation – www.crofting.org . Admittedly when I joined I didn’t really know what a croft is – just thought it was the Scottish version of a smallholding. Any crofters reading this will be glad to know that I have since been enlightened!- please click here if you would like to see the tale.