Tag Archives: Interior Design

Pattern Parlance Part II

Here’s a few more explanations of fabric Parlance. Some of my custom pillows make use of these beauties…now you’ll know what I’m talking about when they are for sale.

  Ikat is a tribal patterned textile that is achieved by dipping the weaving threads into dye before the textile is woven on the loom.

Jacquard is a type of fabric with an intricate variegated weave or pattern. Unlike the Flocking example, which is atop the fabric, these variations in height are woven into the fabric itself.  A heavy and elaborate Jacquard with an all over pattern is also called Brocade.

Lattice is a popular pattern trend at the moment.  It ranges from simple (as featured here) to elaborate geometric designs. Also referred to as fretwork or interlocking patterns.

Matelesse is french for “quilted, padded or cushioned”, it appears raised or blistered due to the weaving process but actually has no padding in the fabric.

Nap is the fuzzy fur like feeling created when fibers from the fabric extend beyond the surface. Velvet and Velour are examples of Nappy fabrics.

Quatrefoil means “four leaves”, and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts. A similar motif known as Trefoil comes from a Latin term that translates roughly as three-leaved.

Suzani is an embroidered textile using sun moon and flower motifs. Originally from eastern Europe and Asia these textiles were used as wedding gifts and are EVERYWHERE in western design these days.

Toile de Jouy, sometimes abbreviated to simply “toile”, is a pattern consisting of a usually white or off-white background on which a fairly complex scene, generally of a pastoral theme is repeated.

Zig Zag, also known as Chevron, is one of the most popular modern fabric designs of the moment.