Tartan Fabric
32 products
Over 90 tartan and check fabrics from £5.50 a metre — traditional setts and modern checks for kilts, skirts, shirts and winter makes.
Matching the sett
Tartan is defined by its sett — the repeating sequence of coloured bands running both ways through the cloth. That repeat is what makes it look right, and it is also what makes it harder to cut than a plain fabric.
Buy extra length for matching: a rule of thumb is one full pattern repeat on top of your pattern requirement, more for a large sett. Cut on a single layer so you can see where the lines fall, match the sett across every seam that meets at the front, and mark the centre line of the check before you cut so a kilt, skirt or shirt front lands symmetrically.