How can I best make a family reunion keepsake?

Leah
by Leah

To commemorate our family gathering (coming up in August 2022) I designed, hand wove, and registered a new family tartan. (We're not Scottish, but Scottish heritage is very much alive where we are from on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia).


I created the tartan to reflect the place where we are from, and wrote a poem to describe the significance of the colours.


I'd like to give everyone who wants one a swatch of the tartan, mounted somehow with the poem.


I'll likely have to make several dozen of these (and travel with them) so I'm trying to come up with something simple, elegant and easily transported.


I'd love to hear any creative ideas from the amazing creators and DIYers at Hometalk!


Thanks!!


p.s.: For those who may not know, a tartan is a specific, repeating pattern of cloth, woven in twill (45 degree texture) that has a particular commemorative or family meaning attached to it. Yes it is plaid--all tartans are plaid. But not all plaid is a tartan!

I've hand woven some of my new family tartan on my little loom.

This is the final designed tartan. It's also been registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans.


And this is the poem I wrote to describe the colours. (If you're wondering, my grandmother's name was Violet).


Green trees of bonny Breton isle

Wind swept sentinels of old

Blue mist rivers, lakes, and streams 

And defiant sun of Gold

Grey fog shrouded rocky shores 

and silver sea and squall

And Violet, my island’s heart, 

Makes family of us all


  18 answers
  • What a lovely idea! My first thought is to frame the sample with the poem next to it, but I don't know how easy that will be to transport. Maybe you could mount the sample on another piece of fabric and transfer the poem to the fabric with your printer. The fabric could be hemmed and a small dowel could be added for hanging.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on May 19, 2022

    you can buy frames from the dollar tree and frame a swatch from the tartan you made (which is lovely) and the poem you wrote.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 19, 2022

    I would think a photo of the full tartan as the background then the poem printed on the paper would be a better representation since a swatch is not going to capture the full pattern. As you said, that's the biggest reason for a tartan. Looking at the photo, the pattern is not going to be captured in a swatch.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on May 19, 2022

    Oh wow, how beautiful. Love those colors. If framing and mounting are too time-consuming or not budget-friendly, you could look at popping a piece inside a bottle along with the poem. Or if the swatch is big enough you can roll it up like a picnic blanket and tie it closed with a leather belt. The poem if short enough can be attached or stuck on as a label. Whatever you decide to do I think your family will treasure them. It's something very special, Leah.

  • Janice Janice on May 19, 2022

    Hello Leah, Since you have so many relatives to share this with and are limited because of the travel, I think Kathy just provided a great solution to your question by printing the poem on a picture of the tartan so the beauty of the full fabric design can be enjoyed. To take it a step further, you could actually do this then make the picture available in a photo link to relatives who are computer savy. If they want, they could then save the pic in whatever file they wish if they have digital albums or even print the picture out on their own paper. I know a bit will be lost because they can't touch and feel the texture of the swatch. Your idea is such a wonderful one! I hope you'll share what you do with us!

  • Mogie Mogie on May 19, 2022

    You could buy a frame and make a shadow box the size would depend on the size of the frame of couse. This would hold the tartan in place as well as the poem. Also being in a square shape they would be easy to travel with.

    http://home-museum.com/howto/HowToArts/Shadow/shadow_boxes.htm

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 19, 2022

    You could take a swatch piece and have the poem printed on it. I don't know how big of swatches you are planning on giving each family member, but a swatch is usually a small enough piece to not be practical for general use. It is more of a keepsake.

    I would say attach it to a piece of matting with a dowel glued to it. This would be easily transported and ready to display.

  • Dee Dee on May 19, 2022

    OMG this tartan is absoutely beautiful. You do excellent work. I would cut out the pieces and zigzag the edges, Put it in a frame with the poem. What a lovely thought and keepsake.

  • Homeroad Homeroad on May 20, 2022

    That is beautiful! I don't know if cutting the fabric is something you want to do but you could make small stuffed hearts for everyone that could hang on the Christmas tree every year with a tag explaining the story.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 21, 2022

    How will you be travelling? In your own vehicle, or by air? If you are flying, framing the tartans first would be out of the question.


    Also, what are the dimensions of the swatches of tartan that you would like to present?

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 21, 2022

    Folks,

    Please read the entire question before commenting. Leah has said that she would like to make up several dozen of the swatches to take to the reunion.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on May 21, 2022

    Get your self small 4 x 4 frames put a poached in it with a small swatch in the frame .you could find frames that match at the dollar store

  • Annie Annie on May 24, 2022

    That is such a beautiful idea and I love your tartan, such pretty colors! Could you mount each swath in a dollar store picture frame, large enough to include the poem? Wrap in bubble wrap or even hand towels for when you travel?

  • Pkc51982978 Pkc51982978 on May 25, 2022

    Hey there! How thoughtful and talented. My suggestion is take a picture of the Tartan and print the poem i

    on the picture. On the backside, you could list the date and location of your family reunion.

    take to a printing company and make a bookmark out of it. Shrinking it down to create a bookmark and laminate. Add a tassel to compliment the colors.

    bookmarks are awesome for bibles, readers, heirloom keepsakes.


  • There are companies that will print custom fabric. You could upload your design, use the pattern to make a tea towel for everyone and then add the printed poem on to it with an iron on transfer. It would be light to transport, easily packed for flight if necessary and a great display piece/ keepsake. Just an idea. Beautiful pattern by the way...and your weaving is gorgeous.

  • Wow, so ambitious and cool! You could maybe try small shadow boxes or use the tartan as the background in a frame with the poem placed over it or set floating above it.

  • Leah Leah on Jun 03, 2022

    Hi Everyone! Wow! Thank you so much for your thoughtful suggestions, ideas, and compliments--so very kind and creative! I haven't quite figured out what to do, but there are some fantastic ideas here. Maybe I'll try several!😁 I'm having 50 yards of the fabric made at a wool mill in the UK, but I won't have any of that by August. But whatever keepsake I end up making, I'll keep you all posted. ♥️


  • Leah Leah on Jul 26, 2022

    Hi home talk friends! Attached is a pic of the final keepsake I came up with. It's a 3 inch kilt pin (hard to see in pic) with a small piece of handwoven tartan. I attached a small lapel pin I made from shrink plastic (shrinkydinks), Mod Podge dimensional magic, and brass pin blanks. I drew/painted a small violet (for my nana, Violet) on the shrink plastic. My family name is sewn on, but the violet pin is removable. I made about 75 of these. Thanks you all once again for your interest and great ideas. The reunion s next week and I can't wait!