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Have you ever found a fabric you liked, but didn’t know how to describe it to find it again? We’ve all heard of florals, stripes and geometrics but fabric styles don’t stop there. We've learned a lot about fabrics over the years, including the names of a wide variety of styles and designs. So we've compiled a list of common pattern names and a little bit about each one.
1. Damask (DAM-usk): This elegant design gets its name from the city of Damascus, a major trading post along the Silk Road where fabric of this style was made and traded to the West. Damask fabrics feature patterns of flowers, fruit and other designs and are usually monochromatic. Damask designs are popular today in wallpaper, table linens, and upholstery.
2. Matelassé (Mat-la-SAY): The word “matelassé” is a French term meaning quilted or padded. This makes sense, as a matelassé fabric is a design with a raised pattern that appears padded, quilted or embossed. While they appear padded, matelassé fabrics don’t actually contain any padding. Matelassés are typically solid colors and are great for pillows, bedding, and more.
3. Quatrefoil (KAT-ruh-foil or KWA-tra-foil): This pattern comes from Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The name quatrefoil is Latin for “four leaves” and the design resembles a four-leaf clover. There are many variations of the quatrefoil, including the “barbed quatrefoil,” which is squarer and the “slipped” quatrefoil, which has a small stem. This design is popular in window treatments, pillows and wallpaper.
4. Houndstooth: This classic check was first worn by shepherds in the Scottish lowlands. It is a two-tone pattern that combines dark and light yarns in uneven rows. The uneven pattern results in a design that looks similar to a dog’s tooth, hence the name houndstooth. Houndstooth is popular in jackets and clothing but is also great for upholstery.
5. Suzani (Su-ZA-nee): A traditional Middle Eastern pattern, suzani textiles were embroidered by brides as part of their dowry and presented to the groom on the wedding day. Suzani fabrics are usually a large-scale design with sun and moon disk (medallion), floral, and vine motifs. Today’s suzani designs are usually loom woven or printed. This style is popular for bedding and window treatments.
6. Chevron: A zigzag stripe pattern, chevrons have been popular in the U.S. for decades. The term chevron comes from the inverted V shape used in military insignia. In fact, the design goes back as far as 1800 B.C. on pottery and rock carvings. Chevrons are a fun, playful fabric for pillows, window treatments and much more.
7. Paisley: The paisley motif resembles a droplet, teardrop or tadpole and is of Persian and Indian origin. The British were introduced to the paisley design in the 18th century when the British East India Company brought back shawls with the design. The pattern got its name from the town of Paisley, Scotland, where textiles with the design were produced. Paisley continues to be popular today in formal styles as well a playful bright colors, perfect for kids’ rooms.
8. Ogee (OH-gee): Ogee gets its name from the architectural arch it resembles. The arch is formed at the connection of two, mirror image, elongated S shapes. Ogee patterns can sometimes resemble an onion. This curvy pattern is often used in bedding and rugs.
9. Jacobean: These patterns date back to the 17th century during the reign of King James I of England. A common motif in Jacobean fabrics is branches ornamented in color with fruits, flowers, and/or birds. They can have an old English feel to them, but many designers are now giving Jacobean elements a modern flair. Jacobean fabrics are often seen on upholstery or window treatments.
10. Ikat (EE-cot): Ikat refers to a dyeing and weaving method rather than the pattern itself. The term ikat comes from the Malay word “mengikat” meaning, “to tie.” The centuries old process includes tying the threads before they are dyed to achieve designs that are then woven into the fabric. This method gives ikat fabrics their signature blurred edges. Most ikats today are actually ikat-inspired prints.
11. Animal: Like the name suggests, animal print generally mimics the skin or fur of an animal on the fabric. Examples include zebra, leopard or crocodile. On our website, we also categorize fabrics that have animals printed on them as an “animal” pattern.
12. Dot/Polka Dot: Fabrics where the only pattern is repeating large or small scale dots on the fabric are categorized as dot or polka dot. These can occur in any color.
13. Herringbone: This pattern is an arrangement of rectangles in a V-shaped weaving pattern usually found in twill fabric. It is called herringbone because it resembles the skeleton of a herring fish. It somewhat resembles chevron but usually on a much smaller scale and has a break at reversal, which makes it resemble a broken zigzag, whereas chevron is continuous.
14. Plaid/Checkered: A fabric with varying bars or stripes of color (sometimes in varying thicknesses) that cross at right angles, also sometimes called tartan. It is traditionally wool or cotton and features both vertical and horizontal bands of color.
15. Gingham: Similar to plaid, gingham is a type of plaid that features vertical and horizontal overlapping lines of the same thickness and color on a small scale.
16. Toile: Meaning “cloth” in French, this sophisticated pattern usually depicts pastoral scenes of the French countryside such as people or nature. These patterns are usually detailed and can resemble an illustration you’d see in a book. You may also find toile in exotic Asian styles.
17. Greek Key: Based in ancient history, the Greek Key is an interlocking rectangular pattern constructed from one continuous line.
18. Southwestern: Reminiscent of weaving methods found in the American Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, etc.). These fabrics usually feature bold desert-like colors and repeating geometric shapes or stripes.
19. Chinoiserie: Similar to toile, this fabric features Asian-inspired motifs of people, buildings or animals for an overall sophisticated look.
20. Flamestitch: A bold, colorful zigzag pattern. It usually involves four threads in four different colors. To create the “flame” effect, the different colored stitches are worked in a series of stepped, zigzag lines.
Bring these patterns into your home with new DIY home décor projects. Find fabrics in all these styles in the Home Fabric category, you can even refine your selection by fabric style!
What patterns are you loving right now? Tell us in the comments!
Footnote: In October 2019 we updated this blog to include 10 new fabric designs and included updated fabric images.
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Now, let's dive into the information related to the fabric patterns mentioned in the article you provided.
Damask
Damask is an elegant fabric design that originated from the city of Damascus, a major trading post along the Silk Road. Damask fabrics feature patterns of flowers, fruit, and other designs and are usually monochromatic. They are popular in various applications such as wallpaper, table linens, and upholstery.
Matelassé
Matelassé is a French term meaning quilted or padded. It refers to a fabric design with a raised pattern that appears padded, quilted, or embossed. Despite the appearance, matelassé fabrics do not actually contain any padding. They are typically solid colors and are commonly used for pillows, bedding, and more .
Quatrefoil
Quatrefoil is a pattern that originated from Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The name "quatrefoil" is derived from the Latin term for "four leaves," and the design resembles a four-leaf clover. There are variations of the quatrefoil, including the "barbed quatrefoil" and the "slipped quatrefoil." This pattern is popular in window treatments, pillows, and wallpaper.
Houndstooth
Houndstooth is a classic check pattern that was first worn by shepherds in the Scottish lowlands. It is a two-tone pattern that combines dark and light yarns in uneven rows, resulting in a design that resembles a dog's tooth. Houndstooth is popular in jackets, clothing, and upholstery.
Suzani
Suzani is a traditional Middle Eastern pattern that was historically embroidered by brides as part of their dowry and presented to the groom on the wedding day. Suzani fabrics usually feature large-scale designs with motifs such as sun and moon disks (medallions), florals, and vines. Today, suzani designs are usually loom woven or printed, and they are popular for bedding and window treatments.
Chevron
Chevron is a zigzag stripe pattern that has been popular in the United States for decades. The term "chevron" comes from the inverted V shape used in military insignia. The design dates back as far as 1800 B.C. on pottery and rock carvings. Chevrons are often used in fabrics for pillows, window treatments, and more.
Paisley
Paisley is a motif that resembles a droplet, teardrop, or tadpole and has Persian and Indian origins. The British were introduced to the paisley design in the 18th century when the British East India Company brought back shawls with the design. The pattern got its name from the town of Paisley, Scotland, where textiles with the design were produced. Paisley is popular in formal styles as well as playful bright colors, making it suitable for various applications, including kids' rooms .
Ogee
Ogee is a pattern that derives its name from the architectural arch it resembles. The arch is formed at the connection of two mirror image, elongated S shapes. Ogee patterns can sometimes resemble an onion. This curvy pattern is often used in bedding and rugs.
Jacobean
Jacobean patterns date back to the 17th century during the reign of King James I of England. They often feature branches ornamented with fruits, flowers, and/or birds. Jacobean fabrics can have an old English feel but are also given modern flair by many designers. They are commonly seen on upholstery or window treatments .
Ikat
Ikat refers to a dyeing and weaving method rather than a specific pattern. The term "ikat" comes from the Malay word "mengikat," meaning "to tie." The process involves tying the threads before dyeing them to achieve designs that are then woven into the fabric. Ikat fabrics are known for their signature blurred edges. While most ikats today are actually ikat-inspired prints, they still capture the essence of the traditional technique.
Animal Print
Animal print fabrics mimic the skin or fur of animals. Examples include zebra, leopard, or crocodile patterns. Fabrics with animals printed on them are also categorized as an "animal" pattern.
Dot/Polka Dot
Fabrics with repeating large or small-scale dots are categorized as dot or polka dot patterns. These patterns can occur in any color .
Herringbone
Herringbone is an arrangement of rectangles in a V-shaped weaving pattern, usually found in twill fabric. It is called herringbone because it resembles the skeleton of a herring fish. Herringbone somewhat resembles chevron but is usually on a smaller scale and has a break at reversal, giving it a broken zigzag appearance.
Plaid/Checkered
Plaid or checkered fabrics feature varying bars or stripes of color that cross at right angles. They can have varying thicknesses and are traditionally made of wool or cotton. Plaid fabrics include both vertical and horizontal bands of color.
Gingham
Gingham is a type of plaid that features vertical and horizontal overlapping lines of the same thickness and color on a small scale. It is similar to plaid but has a distinct appearance.
Toile
Toile is a French word meaning "cloth." It usually depicts pastoral scenes of the French countryside, such as people or nature. Toile patterns are usually detailed and can resemble illustrations found in books. They can also be found in exotic Asian styles.
Greek Key
The Greek Key pattern is based on ancient history and is constructed from one continuous line in an interlocking rectangular pattern.
Southwestern
Southwestern patterns are reminiscent of weaving methods found in the American Southwest, particularly in states like Arizona and New Mexico. These fabrics often feature bold desert-like colors and repeating geometric shapes or stripes.
Chinoiserie
Chinoiserie fabrics feature Asian-inspired motifs of people, buildings, or animals, creating an overall sophisticated look.
Flamestitch
Flamestitch is a bold, colorful zigzag pattern that usually involves four threads in four different colors. The different colored stitches are worked in a series of stepped, zigzag lines to create the "flame" effect .
These are just some of the fabric patterns mentioned in the article. Each pattern has its own unique history, characteristics, and applications.
