Tartan Maker

[fiveliters]

I bought a set of red tartan door panels from a guy a while back,and recently bought one very good seat cover in the red. If I could find one more seat cover,my car (and life) would be complete![:D]Keep us posted!

[jtmco]

I measured it again in millimeters. It still does not seem dead on to me, but I'm measuring a soft, flexible object with a ruler and decreasingly accurate eyes - I didn't pull anything off of the car. I also noted that the plaid is "hatched" so that it doesn't always have a "solid" edge. But my metric numbers convert to very close to my earlier measurements.

Here they are again, once again starting from the widest red:

Red: 17 mm
Black: 1 mm
Red: 3 mm
Black: 10 mm
Red: 5 mm
Black: 4 mm
Red; 5 mm
Black: 53 mm

I don't know what the exact correct shade of red is, but I suppose if one could find a weaver to make it, finding the right shade of thread would not be so hard.

Jim

[jtmco]

I believe that I have found the pattern.

I'm trying to get some swatches to see how the color and dimensions match.

Jim

[tr8]

Good find Jim. Looks pretty close to me.


Paul

[jtmco]

I received a Black and Red Tartan sample and the color and general pattern match the TR7/8, but the dimensions of the pattern are too big to match our seats.

I have sent a sample from an old seat and I believe that I can get some material woven to order. The question is how much to buy.

I can buy enough to fill my needs which I believe will make 5 seats, or I can buy a larger quantity (say enough to make 50 seats)at a discount on a per meter basis.

The question is, if I bought the larger quantity: How many people would be interested in buying some new Red and Black Tartan material to match that on the TR7 seats? I would charge enough to cover the material cost and the hassle of going back and forth to the post office 24 times. The price would be $40-$50 per seat plus shipping. This is <u>not</u> a commitment by either you or me, just a sampling to see if should make the investment.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum - I'm not a commercial enterprise - just a guy trying to get some seats recovered.

Please let me know if you would be interested.

Thanks,

Jim

[mak]

I'd be interested if it's the same as the original.

[Troy ODoherty]

I would be interested in a couple of metres
Cheers Troy

[gslittle]

Hi

Count me in, please.

Graham


1979 TR7 TCT DHC 16V
Formerly...
1980 TR7 FHC
1980 Factory TR8 DHC
1980 Factory TR8 DHC Automatic
1977 TR7 FHC Parts Car
1980 TR7 FHC Parts Car

[tom bauer]

count me in...........

[V8Wedgehead]

Mee tooo! What about the Green & Black?

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC/Works Rally Project

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[gslittle]

Hmmm

What about yellow or blue and black (or others, obviously), which might allow some combinations of upholstery vs exterior colour that are not quite as jarring as a couple of the factory mixtures...

Just a thought...

Graham


1979 TR7 TCT DHC 16V
Formerly...
1980 TR7 FHC
1980 Factory TR8 DHC
1980 Factory TR8 DHC Automatic
1977 TR7 FHC Parts Car
1980 TR7 FHC Parts Car

[V8Wedgehead]

Graham- good point! and the carpet color match too.....custom/dealer/factory optional look.....[8D]

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC/Works Rally Project

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[jtmco]

I have an update on the Black and Red Tartan-

I have someone who can weave a tartan that is very close. In the process, I have learned a couple of things:

1. The weaver believes that our original tartan is printed rather than woven. If you look very closely, you can see that there are not individual threads in the red.

2. I discovered that the tartan in the car is not exactly the same horizontally and vertically. The pattern repeats every 4 1/4" in one direction and every 4 3/4" in the other direction. I just discovered this today - so I have not asked the weaver if they can match this. I think a "genuine" tartan is identical in both directions.

3. I am working on matching the color as closely as possible. I have some new (I guess NOS) door panels. I assume that the color on NOS door panels is the same as the original interior was. If anyone knows differently, let me know.

Jim

[Troy ODoherty]

How is the tartan search going?
Cheers Troy

[jtmco]

I am ready to place an order. I have pattern worked out (it is 4 1/4" in one direction and 4 3/4" in the other) and just this morning, I selected the available thread color that is closest to the original.

I sent an e-mail this evening saying that I was ready to place the order. It should take 6-8 weeks to weave the fabric.

When I receive the material, I'll make samples available so folks can decide for themselves if they want to buy a couple of meters.

When the red and black is done, I can look into whether there is sufficient interest to have the green and black made.

Jim