Learn how to use this sheer and classic fabric in your home .
Edmund Barr
With the rise ofcottage coreand theNancy Meyers aesthetical , gingham and plaid fabrics have once again become a staple pattern in many family . drapery , chairs , and tablecloths are just a few of the agency people areincorporating these patternsinto their spaces . Checkered plaid is a classic , but there ’s a similar pattern that ’s just as recognizable , but not as well known : Houndstooth .
Credit:Edmund Barr
Deborah Youngis a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising .
Whilegingham and plaidare lovesome and snug , houndstooth is voguish , timeless , and classy . Deborah Young , a clinical help professor at Arizona State University Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising , describes houndstooth fabric as long-wearing and unattackable , but still advanced . " It suggests chronicle and tradition , " Young say . " It ’s got a life of its own . "
What Is Houndstooth Fabric?
The descent of houndstooth are n’t certain , but the first know grounds of the fabric see back to 360 A.D. in Europe . Young say the pattern was made democratic when it was used for British hunt club clothing . The material is traditionally made from fleece , so it makes for comfortable , strong , and gymnastic clothing for hunt .
According to Young , houndstooth fabric gained popularity in the high-pitched - end mode existence around 20 years ago . " It went from something very British and very conservative to really trendy and really sexy , " she tell . Designers used the fabric to make dress , suits , skirts , and warm trench coat . Today , the houndstooth pattern is still used oft in fashion and home decor , although it is often printed onto other fabrics alternatively of thread into its own material . " It ’s enjoy its own longevity , " Young says . " It has its own personality , its own prestige . "
Houndstooth is a twill fabric that has a discrete diagonal pattern . But , houndstooth is a upset twill weave , so while there is a detectable slanted pattern in the weave , there are also jagged edge in the formula . These jaggy sharpness are said to resemble the jagged edge of a hound firedog ’s tooth , hence the normal ’s name . likewise , low versions of the radiation diagram are often called micro - houndstooth or pup ’s tooth .
Credit:Ann VanderWiel Wilde
Young says color plays an integral role in the structure of houndstooth fabric . She articulate thefabric is recital - dyed , meaning it is made with four light - colored yarns and four darker yarns . " If it is n’t two colors , the design disappears , which I think is kind of magical , " she says .
Ann VanderWiel Wilde
How to Use Houndstooth Fabric in Your Home
Because of its durability and timelessness , houndstooth is a popular choice for home decor . Young recommends using houndstoothfabric for upholstery . regard upholster the seats of your dining way death chair or an ottoman with houndstooth fabric for a swish and sophisticated look , or forthrow pillows on your couchor in your bedroom .
While many favour a large pattern for aesthetic reasons , Young urges people to regard how much traffic the item is catch . For high - dealings detail like couches and armchair , Young recommends using a micro - houndstooth fabric with a small weave because it will last longer . " The smaller the houndstooth , the more enduringness it would have , " she says .
Young also recommends considering whether the fabric is printed with the form or if it is a woven houndstooth fabric . Because a print sits on top of the fabric and is not woven into it , printed fabrics are n’t near as durable . She also notes that if you ’re working with a woven , houndstooth fabric , it can be fairly heavy — which is why she does n’t recommend true houndstooth fabric forwindow treatment .
However you choose to incorporate the houndstooth pattern in your home , you’re able to dress it up or down ( or diverge the color and sizing of the pattern ) to matchyour personal design style .
