Denim backgroung with a white circle with text inside that reads What is a Twill?||

11 Jan What is a Twill?

After plain weave, the twill is the next most common weave structure. You will recognize it by the distinct diagonal line visible on the face of the fabric. Unlike in plain weave, where the weft yarn goes over one warp thread and under the next, the binding points in a twill happen in a diagonal […]

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|A screen shot of four patterns from the product page showing argyle inspired patterns.

15 Sep What is an Argyle?

There is a reason classic argyle socks have become a favorite for wearing and gifting alike. This pattern stands the test of time, has wide-reaching appeal and has an exciting history. While we don’t have any traditional versions in our licensable library, we have several patterns inspired by this classic. These translate well in residential […]

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4 Aug What are Plain Fabrics?

Textile and pattern designers often throw down a term that seems counterintuitive, plain fabric. When we say plain fabric, we’re referring to a material with minimal patterning and usually solid or tonal in color. If we’re being honest, nothing about fabric or pattern is ever plain at all! Look closely at even the most unassuming […]

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Color Wheel with words on top that read the language of color

16 Jun Basic Color Terms Defined

Like any discipline, color has a language. To work with color confidently, it is helpful to learn that language. Thankfully, it’s not complicated. Knowing a handful of basic color terms is all you need to understand what people are saying about color. A firm understanding of these terms will help in both working with color […]

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What is a Harlequin|

15 Mar What is a Harlequin Pattern?

Diamonds are a popular motif in textile design. As a result, there are a lot of different terms textile designers use to describe the different types of diamond designs they create. As you search our licensable library, you’ll see in the Theme search menu an option to view Harlequin. What exactly does that mean? Textile […]

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|Undula Seamless Pattern P1697 on Header|Mirrored Stripe|Nonmirrored-P1830c1 Vibration Seamless Pattern P1830|Linear Ombre Seamless Pattern P535 in Header

26 Jan What is a Stripe?

Stripes truly are one of the most ubiquitous types of patterns. From the moment humans decided to make their everyday items decorative, they have been using stripes. While some people hear the word stripe and think of solid lines of color lined up next to each other, a stripe can be much more than that. […]

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9 Nov What is a Landscape Pattern?

In our licensable library, we have many different categories to make searching through our 600+ patterns easy. There are filters for shape, technique, theme, market, and color family. We also have three main categories: Geometric Patterns, Landscape Patterns, and Organic Patterns. Geometric and organic are probably easy to visualize. A geometric pattern has harder edges […]

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25 May What is a Greek Key?

The Greek Key is a common motif in textile design and many other places where decorative elements are necessary. Whether or not you know the name, you have most likely seen a Greek Key design. In fact, it may even be in your home. Often used as a border, it is also used frequently in […]

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8 Mar What is Chintz & is it Making a Comeback?

Chintz, glazed cotton prints, were the rage in over-the-top interiors in the 1980s and an excess associated with interior designer Mario Buatta, among others. This pattern-upon-pattern riot eventually died out, giving way to the minimalist and ubiquitous mid-century modern aesthetic –first in beige, and then in all white- we have been living with since.  Polychrome […]

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|Coffee To Go Pattern P1026 on Wallpaper

2 Feb What is a Novelty Print?

A novelty print describes a particular type of pattern. Sometimes referred to as a conversational print, a novelty print has something about it that is, well, novel. These prints go beyond the familiar motifs of flowers, leaves, scrolls, and shapes. Instead, these designs contain unusual, but recognizable motifs. The novelty of the motif itself is […]

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17 Sep Four Common Shibori Techniques Explained

The world of textile design encompasses a variety of skills and techniques which fall into two main categories. The first describes the actual construction of a fabric out of individual fiber and threads. In other words, interlacing yarn through weaving or knitting, or interlocking just fibers through a process such as felting. Secondly, textile design […]

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Jacobean|Floral Tapestry Vector Pattern P1201 in|Botanical Garden Jacobean_Wallpaper_P1200a2

3 Sep Jacobean Design, A Brief History

The Jacobean Age takes its name from Jacobus, the Latin form of King James I of England. This style of 17th-century decor is best known for intricate carvings, heavy oak furniture, detailed tapestries, and especially crewel embroideries with flowing designs. The type of patterning associated with Jacobean Design has its roots in two places. First, […]

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16 Jul Ikat: Definition, History & Design

Ikat fabrics are beautiful, intriguing, and always in style. While other types of patterning come in and out of fashion, there is something about ikat that manages to always stay relevant. It’s nothing new. This has been the case around the world and throughout history. What exactly is ikat? Ikat (pronounced: E–cot) is a method […]

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1 May Chevron: Definition and Design

Chevron, according to textile historian Susan Meller, “are offspring of the herringbone weave, in which columns of short diagonal stripes meeting in a line of Vs not unlike the skeletons of a fish. Some herringbone prints imitate a woven herringbone, complete with uneven lines that imply the roughness of woolly threads; others loudly declare their independence […]

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7 Nov Suzani Pattern Definition and Design

Anyone lucky enough to have seen a suzani up close will always remember the experience. These beautiful textiles are expertly crafted by skilled artists, and their size and density of stitches are awe-inspiring. The stitching is what gives these textiles their name. The word suzani is derived from the Persian word suzan, which means needle. A […]

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5 Jul Damask Definition and Designs

Damask textiles originated in China around 300BC. The knowledge of this weaving technique slowly spread west from there. They are named after the significant silk road trading city Damascus, Syria. These finely patterned textiles grew to major production in the Middle Ages, particularly in the Middle East. Legend often credits Marco Polo with bringing the […]

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