Tartan

 


Tartan is of course particularly associated with Scotland, but the designs and colours are also commonly used in winter or Christmas decorating themes, and we thought that it would be fun to create some printables and come up with some tartan craft ideas too.

Tartan activities and printables

Blue Tartan Scrapbook Paper

Blue Tartan Scrapbook Paper

This lovely blue tartan scrapbook paper may not be a traditional Scottish tartan exactly, but it is a perfect winter background for a scrapbook page or card when you want something warm and cosy! You will need the password ActivityVillage.co.uk to download and print.

Christmas Tartan Display Letters

Christmas Tartan Display Letters

These lovely tartan letters will cheer up your Christmas displays, and add some warmth! We've got the whole alphabet, both lower case and upper case, in red and green tartan designs.

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 1

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 1

This is quite a tricky exercise - to break down how the "real" tartan design is made up, then translate it into your own version in the square on the right. We have three of these worksheets to challenge the kids.

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 2

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 2

Can the kids work out how this real tartan design is created, weaving the warp and weft threads together? Having worked it out, copy it across into the square on the right.

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 3

Copy the Tartan Worksheet 3

Try breaking down the tartan design in the small square into blocks of warp and weft colours to understand how the tartan is created, before re-creating it in the larger square. This is a challenging tartan worksheet!

Design a Tartan Worksheet 1

Design a Tartan Worksheet 1

Tartan designs can be simple or complex, but they are all based on blocks of colour in the warp and weft threads crossing over at right angles to form different hues where they meet. Use this worksheet to create your own tartan design.

Design a Tartan Worksheet 2

Design a Tartan Worksheet 2

This "design a tartan" worksheet is based on a traditional tartan design - and it isn't an easy one! Use the smaller square to work out your own mixture of colours and try it out, the move over to the bigger square for your final version.

Make a Scottish Kilt Card

Make a Scottish Kilt Card

Kids can make this fun kilt card for a Scottish friend's birthday, or perhaps for St Andrew's Day! We've written the message on a sporran on the front of the card, which is really effective!

Make Your Own Tartan Craft

Make Your Own Tartan Craft

This very messy craft gives children an idea of how tartan patterns are formed. If you are doing this as a group activity, provide a large collection of ribbons and fabric and you will be surprised how many different variations of tartan you will get!

Scottie Dog Mobile

Scottie Dog Mobile

Cheer up your outlook with a collection of cheerful tartan Scottie dogs! Using a paper plate for the "mobile" element of our Scottie dog mobile made this a quick and easy way to display our collection of Scotties.

Tartan Alphabet - Mixed

Tartan Alphabet - Mixed

Here's the whole alphabet - upper and lower case letters - in all sorts of colours of tartan and plaid designs.

Tartan Bunting - Large

Tartan Bunting - Large

This fun tartan bunting is sure to brighten up your room! There are eight pages in this printable, each with a different design (none of which, by the way, is supposed to be a real Scottish plaid design).

Tartan Bunting - Small

Tartan Bunting - Small

Just for fun, this decorative tartan bunting is quick to print and cut out (stack the sheets and cut through them all at the same time) and is a fun way to perk up your room, perhaps for St Andrew's Day or Burns Night!

Tartan Colouring Page 1

Tartan Colouring Page 1

Can you could in this tartan design? Remember that the pattern is formed by horizontal and vertical stripes of colour, blending to form different colours where they cross and repeating throughout the fabric.

Tartan Colouring Page 2

Tartan Colouring Page 2

There is no need to stick to conventional tartan colours for this tartan colouring page, but you might want to colour the horizontal stripes (warp) first and then add the vertical stripes (the weft).  

Tartan Gift Tags

Tartan Gift Tags

Use these gift tags "as is" or fold them in half before punching a hole for ribbon or cord. They will brighten up your Christmas presents!

Tartan Heart Bunting

Tartan Heart Bunting

We've got two lovely red tartan hearts to print out - as many times as you like - and string together to make a pretty bunting display.

Tartan Heart Gift Tags

Tartan Heart Gift Tags

These tartan heart gift tags look so pretty strung with red or green ribbon onto Christmas parcels - particularly if you use simple brown (kraft) paper to wrap them up!

Tartan Painting

Tartan Painting

Scotland is, of course, famous for its tartans. Why not have a go at designing your own with this tartan painting idea? My children found this an interesting challenge and enjoyed the finished result.

More Scottish Fun

Scottie Dogs
Scottie Dogs

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