From Hobby to Heritage: The Story Behind Guernsey Tartan

From sewing as a child to launching a family-run textile business, Katy Barrett shares her journey to creating Guernsey’s very own Tartan. 

 

 

A Stitch In Time.

Sewing was something Katy picked up early, helped along by an encouraging mum and a well-thumbed ‘learn to sew’ book she still has today. She began with small projects, like cushions, and her mum happily provided fabric, even when the end results weren’t quite perfect.

By junior school, she’d also picked up knitting, thanks to a friend’s mum who owned a wool shop. Like many people, Katy was pushed towards academic subjects  when it came to O Levels. But students were allowed one opt-out, and she chose needlework.

“It turned out to be the most useful subject I ever took,” she laughs. “Out of all eight O-levels, it was the one that gave me the life skills I actually used in my career!”

 

The Unexpected Career Skill.

That career? Making boat covers and repairing sails. No small feat. Practical, precise, and rooted in the skills she’d chosen as a teenager.

She also continued to sew at home, enjoying the process of learning new techniques and making her own clothes. Always up for a challenge, when it came to her own wedding, she decided to make her dress herself: “Although not my husband’s suit - that was the most expensive part of the wedding!”

 

 

A Hands-On Way of Life.

Later, while homeschooling her daughter, Katy continued encouraging creativity and curiosity. They often sought out unusual crafts or traditional skills to explore together. One of those experiments came after watching artisan spinners at the West Show. 

It sparked an interest, and they gave it a go. Spinning became a hobby and weaving soon followed, but as often happens with Katy, a hobby didn’t stay small for long.

 

Threads of Inspiration.

During Guernsey’s short-lived ‘air bridge’ with the Isle of Man during lockdown, Katy took a trip with friends and spotted their national tartans. She was struck by the craftsmanship and the detail involved in their design.

She started researching and discovered two distinct Isle of Man tartans, one of which hadn’t been commercially woven since the 1970s. That challenge caught her attention. She began studying thread counts, traditional tartan design, and how patterns are registered. Back home, she wove small keepsakes for the friends she’d travelled with using the lesser used Manx Tartan. And that’s when the idea struck: if the Isle of Man and Jersey both had tartans, why didn’t Guernsey?

 

 

Capturing The Essence of Guernsey.

Once the seed was planted, Katy couldn’t let it go. She wanted to create a tartan that reflected the essence of Guernsey. Not just the colours of the landscape, but the heritage and the symbols we associate with island life. She worked through ideas, choosing colours inspired by the hues of Guernsey cow, the Golden Guernsey goat, the pink of the Guernsey Lily, and other familiar touches. 

Getting the colours just right for the handwoven samples was more challenging than you might think. Yarn is readily available, just not necessarily in the exact tones that Katy had selected. But once that hurdle had been overcome, she started weaving samples, adjusting the pattern until the proportions felt just right. 

The first thing she made was a pair of house trousers for herself. Her daughter asked for a pair next. Then her sister. That’s when her daughter began encouraging her to take it further… and from there, Guernsey Tartan was born.

 

Woven in Scotland, Rooted in Guernsey.

Once the colours and design had been pinned down, Katy’s next challenge was to find a textile mill, and she decided to partner with a traditional mill in the Scottish Borders - a detail that adds authenticity to every piece.

There’s no doubt that it’s a family business at heart, with Katy’s daughter playing a key role behind the scenes, especially when it comes to digital tools and social media. The support has been constant from the start, and it’s clear this is as much about shared legacy as it is about fabric.

With guidance from the Digital Greenhouse, Katy registered the design, secured the rights to the name, and even received the Bailiff’s official seal of approval. Guernsey Tartan is now formally recognised, with its own identity, colour story and registered pattern.

 

 

What’s Next for Guernsey Tartan?

The first collection of Guernsey Tartan products are available through a dedicated website. The first collection focuses on luxury blankets and throws, plus a selection of gift items, from cushion covers to purses.

But Katy’s not stopping there.

“As I said, I love a challenge,” she smiles. “So if someone is looking for a bespoke furnishing piece or an item of clothing for a special occasion, I’ll definitely consider it.”

 

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