Sheep have been farmed in McKellar for over 150 years.  In 1886, a spinning and weaving mill was built in behind the saw mill. Blankets from the mill are still in private collections.  Bert Weir's kids remember the sheep farm just north of the village in the 60's.

Wave Weir, with her childhood memories in hand, decided to "re-invent the wheel" and return a wool mill to the village.  She started thinking and exploring 'all things wool'. Her discovery of the Scottish MacKellar Tartan got her thinking that the Township should have its own tartan to celebrate its Sesquicentennial.

Wave had a working relationship with Deborah Livingston-Lowe of Upper Canada Weaving.  Deborah was hand weaving the first yardage from locally spun wool for Wave's new garments. Wave asked her to design the McKellar Tartan using natural colours from the local sheep and alpaca - no chemical dyes would be used.

Wave wanted to produce 150 Commemorative Tartan Throws - collector items to be sure. The first throws have been made using the Alpaca from Bear Den Farms on the Balsam road between McKellar and Dunchurch. Lynda and Doug McArthur live on the old Erwin farm.

As looms have now been installed at Wave's Fibre Mill, she plans to produce other items using the tartan. At the moment they are weaving pure linen tea towels, which makes a more affordable keepsake. Vivian Moore, Historical Committee President, has also made a fur bear dressed in the wool tartan for the Lottery.