Clan MacFarlane Worldwide, Inc.

Twigs to Trees

March, 2020

Mary Helen Haines

Good day everyone. I am looking forward to seeing and meeting in person some of our members on our CMW trip to Scotland in July. It is always fun to finally meet members that I have been communicating with for years.

It has been great to see all the participation in the FTDNA MacFarlane project. We are discovering more SNPs with the new generation of Big Y 700 tests coming in. With each new tester we are able to further define SNPs that belong to a particular individual back in time. As the tests get less expensive over time, I hope everyone interested in their family history will join our project of over 1200 members.

Tweed

Mother used to almost draw a breath whenever she would say to me: "Oh, but it is a really nice tweed jacket."  As an adult, I now understand why she loved tweed so much.  A tough fabric, it does come in a variety of colors, albeit what I would deem muted in brilliance.  To date, I have never personally owned anything tweed.  But I know it when I see it.  It exudes quality and endurance.  It also usually comes with a higher price tag than I have felt my cheap old bones willing to pay.  But in all honesty, I have to also remember another statement from my Mother.  She would say that you get what you pay for.  "A $100 coat will likely last you 10 or more years.  At the cost of $10 per year, it is well worth the investment."

So, after yet another visit through a department store where I longingly ran my hands across a beautiful tweed jacket for myself, I've decided to educate myself on tweed.  I guess we can take that ride together.

There is a wonderful website that provides expert education in the simplest of manner (of which I am MOST appreciative), on a variety of topics.  So when I went looking for something on the internet, a Master class all about tweed, was something I just did not want to overlook.  The class about tweed is taught by Marc Jacobs, a well-known fashion designer.  You can review his succint lesson here:  TWEED.

So, in a nutshell, tweed appeared in the mid-eighteenth century.  We all know it comes from Ireland and Scotland.  But it was originally called "tweel."  Twell is the Scottish word for twill.  There appears to be a story that a bumbling Englishman misinterpreted "tweel" for "tweed" and the rest is... history.

Farmers were the first to wear tweed, but as usual, give a nobleman an idea, and they will run with it.  So after 1848, Prince Albertt purchased Balmoral Castle and designed a Balmoral tweed.  From there, it was fashionable for each estate to have their own tweed design.

Yes, tweed is really warm.  This is why we have actually purchased one for Steve.  We were in Scotland, and it was terribly cold.  He always insists on having his tweed jacket with us if we are going to the mountains.  But beyond a jacket or coat, you have likely seen the use of tweed in hats, bags, and of course, full suits for men and women.

Many years ago, I an certain that I saw a program discussing tweed, the weave of tweed, and a discussion about how the tweed is a match to the countryside and used as a sort of hunting camoflauge.  I've never seen that expressed anywhere again, so although I trust my PBS, I do have to wonder if this wasn't a convenient explanation.  The truth is, there are several recognizable tweed patterns.

1.  Harris tweed - legally protected and made in the outer Hebrides off the northern coast of Scotland.  There is a Harris Tweed Act of 1993:  “Handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spunin the Outer Hebrides.”

2.  Donegal tweed - From Donegal, Ireland, this is deemed the most popular tweed with colorful specks and a knobby surface.

3.  Saxony tweed - Originally made in Saxony, Germany, it is a very soft tweed.  The wool comes from merino sheep.

4.  Herringbone tweed - The familiar weave with a pattern of V's.  It does look like fish bones, this the name.

5.  Shetland tweed - This tweed is from the Shetland Island sheep.  The Shetland Islands are off the northeast coast of Scotland.  This wool is lighter in color and weight, producing what is considered a casual tweed.

6.  Barleycorn tweed - (Never heard of it!). The weave has the appearance of barleycorn kernels on the surface of the fabric.  Slightly bumpy, the pattern is, per Marc Jacobs, "a dynamic pattern."

7.  Cheviot tweed - From the Cheviot sheep of the Scottish borders, this produces a rough and heavy tweed.

8.  Overcheck tweed - a plain fabric with a large checked design with contrasting colors.

(Thank you Marc Jacbos!)

Clan MacFarlane Worldwide is a member of COSCA - the Council of Scottish Clans & Associations.  As a member, we are entitled to share the copies of the newsletter, The Claymore, to our current members.  So please follow the link by selecting the graphic below, to enjoy the latest issue. 

Clan MacFarlane Worldwide has partnered with our dear friend, Janet Robertson, of Thistle Dubh Enterprises, to revise the upcoming trip to Scotland. Please take a little time to review the itinerary. It is exciting! Visits to places we haven't ventured to before. Guidance from Lord Sempill. Visit to The Court of Lord Lyon for a private viewing and meeting with Dr. Joseph J. Morrow, CBE, QC, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Genealogy and heraldry with Dr. Bruce Durie. Rosslyn Chapel, Tantallon Castle, Melrose Abbey, and of course all the Clan MacFarlane heritage locations. We are so very pleased to offer this trip. Please note that there are limited number of seats, so don't dally on you decision-making! And, you can also find the itinerary as well as sign-up information here at the attached document.