What is probably the oldest design ever to be called by the clan name is the simple red and green check that is now known as Moncreiffe. As a pattern, it is similar to the red and black check or the green and black check known respectively as Rob Roy and Robin Hood. All of these patterns were being woven by the firm Wm Wilson & Son of Bannockburn at the beginning of the 19th century. In the 1819 Key Pattern Book from Wilson of Bannockburn, this pattern is listed simply as "Number 66" or "MacLachlan". A smaller thread count pattern is listed as "Number 99" or "Small MacLachlan".
This pattern is sometimes known as Old MacLachlan, perhaps to differentiate it from the usual clan sett. Sir Ian Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Chief of the Moncreiffes until his death in 1985, asked Madam Marjorie MacLachlan, 24th Chief of Clan MacLachlan, to assign him the rights to the tartan as the MacLachlans no longer used it. Having been called MacLachlan at one time, there is no reason why it should not still be worn as such by those of the name.
The sample shown here was woven from wool dyed with natural dyes.
The following table defines the sett thread counts for this tartan.
| Red | Green |
| 72 | 72 |
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