Textiles & Patterns
Fabric types, weaving techniques, and decorative patterns used in upholstery, drapery, and soft furnishings.
50 terms in this category
A
B
Bargello
A type of needlepoint embroidery featuring dramatic zigzag patterns worked in graduated color sequences, named after chairs in the Bargello palace in Florence.
Basket Weave
A variation of plain weave where two or more threads are bundled together and woven in an over-under pattern, mimicking the appearance of a woven basket.
Batik
A resist-dyeing technique originating from Indonesia where hot wax is applied to fabric before dyeing, creating intricate patterned designs.
Block Print
A hand-printing technique where carved wooden blocks are dipped in dye and pressed onto fabric, producing characteristically imperfect, artisanal patterns.
C
Chevron Textile
A zigzag pattern formed by V-shapes that meet at continuous points, creating a bold and dynamic visual rhythm in fabric.
Crewel
A form of surface embroidery using loosely twisted worsted wool yarn on a linen or cotton base, known for its flowing floral and vine motifs.
Crochet Textile
A textile craft using a hooked needle to interlock loops of yarn or thread, creating fabric with distinctive open, lacey textures and patterns.
Cross-Stitch
A form of counted-thread embroidery using X-shaped stitches on an even-weave fabric to create pixelated patterns and imagery.
D
Digital Print
A modern textile printing process using inkjet technology to apply designs directly onto fabric, enabling photorealistic imagery and unlimited color ranges.
Dobby Weave
A patterned weave produced on a dobby loom, creating small geometric or textural motifs like dots, diamonds, or raised stripes within the fabric.
F
Flame Stitch
A needlework pattern consisting of sharp zigzag lines arranged in graduated colors, creating a dynamic flame-like or wave effect across the textile.
Floral Pattern
A decorative textile motif depicting flowers, leaves, and botanical elements in styles ranging from realistic to highly abstracted.
Fringe Trim
A decorative textile edging consisting of loose threads or cords hanging from a bound or woven header, used to finish and embellish soft furnishings.
G
Geometric Pattern
A textile design based on mathematical shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, and hexagons arranged in repeating configurations.
Gingham
A lightweight plain-woven fabric featuring a pattern of even-sized checks formed by colored and white yarns in both warp and weft.
Greek Key
A decorative border pattern of continuous right-angled spirals forming a repeated motif, originating from ancient Greek architecture and pottery.
H
Herringbone Textile
A V-shaped weaving pattern resembling the skeleton of a herring fish, created by reversing the direction of the twill weave at regular intervals.
Houndstooth
A duotone textile pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, traditionally woven in black and white.
M
Matelasse
A double-woven fabric with a raised, quilted or puckered surface texture achieved through weaving rather than actual quilting or padding.
Moroccan Tile Pattern
A textile design inspired by traditional Moroccan zellige tilework, featuring intricate geometric and star-shaped motifs in vibrant colors.
P
Paisley
A distinctive teardrop-shaped motif of Persian and Indian origin, often arranged in intricate, repeating patterns on textiles.
Passementerie
The collective term for elaborate decorative trimmings including braids, cords, gimps, rosettes, and ornamental edgings used to embellish textiles and upholstery.
Patchwork
A textile technique where small pieces of fabric in various colors, patterns, and textures are sewn together to form a larger decorative cloth.
Pile Weave
A weaving technique that produces raised loops or cut fibers on the fabric surface, creating soft, plush textures found in velvet, terry cloth, and rugs.
Plaid
A pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands of color, originating from Scottish Highland tartan traditions.
Plain Weave
The most fundamental weaving structure where each weft thread alternates over and under each warp thread, producing a balanced, durable fabric.
Polka Dots
A pattern consisting of evenly spaced, filled circles of uniform size repeated across a fabric surface.
Q
Quatrefoil
A symmetrical decorative motif consisting of four overlapping circles or lobes, resembling a four-leaf clover and rooted in Gothic architecture.
Quilting
The craft of joining multiple layers of fabric with decorative stitching to create a padded textile, often featuring intricate pieced or appliqued designs.
S
Satin Weave
A weaving technique where weft threads float over multiple warp threads before interlacing, producing a smooth, lustrous surface with a subtle sheen.
Screen Print
A printing method where ink is pushed through a mesh stencil onto fabric, allowing precise reproduction of detailed patterns in multiple colors.
Shibori
A Japanese manual resist-dyeing technique that produces distinctive patterns through folding, twisting, binding, or compressing fabric before dyeing.
Stripes Pattern
A linear textile pattern of parallel bands in varying widths and colors, one of the most fundamental and versatile decorative motifs.
Suzani
A richly embroidered textile from Central Asia featuring bold, colorful floral and sun motifs, traditionally crafted as part of a bride's dowry.
T
Tapestry Weave
A technique of hand or machine weaving where colored weft threads are woven in sections to create pictorial or complex geometric designs within the fabric.
Tartan
A patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors, historically associated with Scottish clans.
Tassel Trim
A decorative embellishment consisting of bundled threads or cords gathered at one end to form a hanging ornament, used on curtains, cushions, and upholstery.
Tie-Dye
A textile dyeing technique where fabric is twisted, folded, or bound before applying dye, producing organic, radiating patterns of color.
Trellis Pattern
A repeating lattice or grid-like decorative motif inspired by garden trelliswork, often featuring interlocking diamond or ogee shapes.
Twill Weave
A weaving pattern where the weft thread passes over multiple warp threads in a staggered sequence, creating distinctive diagonal ridges on the fabric surface.
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