Our Shepherd's Plaid pure new wool blanket
The pattern of the Shepherd’s Check is woven in a simple combination of black and white threads, usually in a sequence of 4 black / 4 white or 6 black / 6 white on a common twill construction.
Border shepherds traditionally used their checked plaids, as a multipurpose garment, to protect them from the elements and also to wrap, carry and protect new born lambs.
The Shepherd’s Check went on to be used as the basis for the first of the Estate Tweeds, The Glenfeshie. This Estate Tweed is a simple variant of the Shepherd’s Check where the black and white pattern is superimposed with a scarlet overcheck.
A shepherd with a new born lamb wrapped in his plaid - image taken from the Estate Tweed Book