A

Abstract Unrecognizable forms and layouts. In the textile business the word "abstract" is

used to describe a nonobjective motif that cannot be described any other way. »

Adaptation A design based on another design but significantly modified and altered to

be considered new and different. »

Airbrush Imitating effects produced with a painter's spray air gun. Often

creates patterns with a light, soft, and modern look. »

Alleyways Unintentional lines formed by negative spaces (spaces vacant of motifs) in a

design. »

Allover A layout in which motifs are fairly close and evenly distributed as opposed to

stripes, borders,plaids, and engineered designs. Another term is overall. »

Anthemion A classical motif based on a stylized honeysuckle plant or a radiating, fan-shaped palm leaf (palmette) commonly found in Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian, and other

ancient art. »

Arabesque An elaborate ornamental design of intertwined floral or geometric motifs.

Commonly comes from (or inspired by) Islamic art or architecture. »

Argyle A pattern of diamond-shaped rectangles in a diagonal alternating (checkerboard) arrangement. Typically uses a small number (two or three) colors. Mostly used in knitted

fabrics. An alternative spelling is Argyll. »

Art Deco A style of decorative art typical of the 1920s and 1930s. The name was derived

from the 1925 International Exhibition in Paris that showed "des Arts Decoratifs." »

Art Nouveau A design style of the late 19th century characterized by dynamic, flowing

curves suggesting foliate motifs. »

Asymmetrical Pattern A pattern lacking visible signs of symmetry, such as rotation or

reflection. »

Asymmetry The absence of symmetry in a motif or pattern. See Asymmetrical

Pattern. »

Awning Stripes A pattern of relatively wide, even, usually vertical stripes of solid color

on a lighterground. Resembles the pattern on awning fabrics. »

B

Background The part of a design that appears to be farthest from the viewer and behind the objects of interest. Can be a solid color, texture, random objects, or

another pattern (patterned ground). Also calledground. Opposite of foreground. »

Balanced Design A design with no line-ups, alleyways, or holes. »

Balanced Stripes A symmetrical layout, in which colored bands are arranged around a

"center." »

Bandanna A square piece of usually colorfully patterned cloth worn on the head (kerchief) or used as a handkerchief, neckerchief, or a costume accessory. Also

bandana. »

Barcode A stripe pattern consisting of lines of varying width as in a barcode. »

Basketweave An allover pattern resembling the structure of a basket or a woven fabric.

See also examples in weaving. »

Batik A design with a tie-dyed appearance created by coating the parts of cloth not to be dyed with removable wax. Colors often include indigo, dark brown, and white.

Certain patterns have historic meanings and can only be worn by nobility. »

Bayadere Stripes Brightly colored stripes of various widths laid out horizontally (from side to side on the fabrics). The color effects usually range from lively to startling to bizarre. Often made with black warps and crosswise ribs (plain or twill weave). Mostly produced in India. The name is derived from the Bayadere dancing girl of India, dedicated

to a dancing life from birth. »

Bead and Reel A decorative motif consisting of oval or round shapes ("beads")

alternating with elongated or cylindrical shapes ("reels"). »

Bengal Stripes Stripes of apparently the same width and alternating light and dark colors. Bengal stripes are usually wider than candy stripes, but narrower than awning stripes. Commonly used in wallpaper, upholstery, and shirtings. Originated in India and became popular during the Regency era in the United Kingdom. Also called Regency

stripes and tiger stripes. »

Bird's Eye A weave forming small-scale diamond shapes (diaper) each with a dot in the center, suggestive of the eye of a bird. Also a small-scale (typically geometric) design of a

similar shape. A somewhat bigger weave is sometimes referred to as pheasant's eye. »

Block Printing A type of relief printing where motifs are printed with wooden blocks.

One of the earliest methods of textile printing. »

Block Repeat A layout in which the repeating unit appears directly on a horizontal line to the left or right of the original design unit. Also called square repeat, straight-across

repeat, and straight repeat. »

Blotch An irregular area of foreground or background color around the motif. »

Border Design A pattern designed to run lengthwise along the edge of the fabric or

wallpaper. »

Botanical A design showing realistic representation of herbs, garden plants, and other

botanical objects. Also designs based on botanical illustrations. »

Boteh A stylized teardrop-shaped design originally on shawls from Kashmir and mass-

produced in Paisley, Scotland. Same as paisley. »

Brick Layout A layout in which every second row is shifted halfway in the horizontal

direction. »

Brocatelle A variant of damask that incorporates a satin or twill figuring that is contrasted

with a plain orsatin-weave ground. »

Bull's Eye A pattern of concentric circles, often creating optical effects, such as

movement or pulsation. »

C

Computer Aided Design (CAD) A pattern design CAD software application is a tool for creating repeat patterns by computer. Not to be confused with fashion CAD systems

that deal with creating patterns for garments, footwear, or accessories. »

Calico A small-scale allover floral design in bright colors originally from India. Later

associated with American country-style. »

Camouflage A pattern that conceals the object by blending it into its environment or

providing a false impression of the object characteristics (disruptive patterns). »

Cartouche An oblong decorative figure resembling a frame, tablet, shield, or scroll bearing an inscription or emphasizing a design element. Used as a standalone or as part of a pattern's motif. On ancient Egyptian monuments, an enclosure for royal and

divine names. »

Celtic Knot A knot formed by interfaced ribbons that lead seamlessly into one another.

Same aseverlasting knot. »

Check A pattern of squares. Some of the check patterns (in order of increasing size)

are pincheck, mini check, Gingham check, tattersall check, and windowpane check. »

Chequer A pattern of squares of alternating colors, textures, or materials. Another

spelling is checker pattern. Same as checkerboard pattern. »

Chevron A traditional, woven or printed design of zigzags in a stripe layout, also

called herringbone. »

Chinoiserie Any Western interpretation of an Oriental design. »

Chintz Glazed fabric, usually printed in bright florals and stripes, mostly used for drapery

and upholstery, but also for apparel. »

Collage A collage pattern is one assembled by gluing paper scraps, photographs, cloth, or other objects onto a flat surface. Also an imitation of such a technique. Derived from the

French "coller", to glue. »

Composite Overlay Two or more patterns stacked on top of each other. A typical

example is patterned background. »

Composite Repeat A combination of two or more symmetry types in one pattern. For example, rotationalmedallions put in a drop repeat. In Artlandia SymmetryWorks, created

with replicas. »

Contemporary A design with simple, extremely stylized motifs. »

Contour A pattern of outlines highlighting or suggesting shapes or figures of the motif. »

Contract A design for nonresidential markets such as offices, hotels, and hospitals. »

Conversational A design with recognizable objects in the motif. Also called object

prints. »

Coordinates Two or more designs related to each other in color, subject matter, and/or

technique that are intended to be used together. »

Coral An organic allover pattern suggestive of coral growth. »

Counterchange A design where a certain color of the motif and its ground are reversed

in another part of the design to balance the elements. »

Coverage The amount of design area in relation to the negative space. »

Croquis A fully painted design that is not in repeat; same as sketch. »

D

Damask A jacquard woven ornamental reversible fabric usually in one color. Originally

produced from silk or wool. »

Decorative Design Artwork created for use in home furnishing and interior

decoration. »

Diamond A pattern whose elements are arranged along diagonal (diamond) lines. »

Diaper A small-scale geometric pattern in a set layout of interlocking or closely aligned

forms. Also aweave forming a diamond (diagonal) pattern. »

Directional A design in which motifs are oriented along one or several directions. Examples of directional design include one-way, two-way, and four-way layouts. Also a design that looks correct from only one direction. The opposite is a non-directional

(undirectional) design. »

District Check A check pattern that originates from uniforms identifying specific Scottish estates. Famous district check patterns include the Glen checks, the Shepherd, the

Dupplin, the Benmore, and others. See also Tartans. »

Ditsies A ditsie is an allover design of small buds, circles, zigzags, and other elements

that are simple, eccentrically silly, and may be funny. »

Documentary Design A design based on documents or original (usually historical) material and reproduced closely to the original, often using a different technology.

Compare to adaptation. »

Dog's tooth A pattern of small broken or jagged checks created by four-pointed stars.

Same as hound's tooth. »

Dotted Swiss A pattern of small, evenly spaced raised dots (usually on a thin,

lightweight fabric). »

Dryrush Employing or imitating effects produced with a brush holding a small to

negligible amount of paint. Characterized by a scratchy, textured look. »

E

Eccentrics An eccentric is a pattern of thin lines generating an illusion of a distortion or op-art effects. Another spelling is excentrics. The class is believed to be originated from

the Lane's Net pattern. »

Egg and Dart A classic design consisting of an oval element alternating with an arrow-

like element. »

Engineered A motif or group of motifs designed to fit a specific shape. »

Ethnic Art typical of a specific nationality or a design based on folk art. »

Everlasting Knot A knot formed by interfaced ribbons that lead seamlessly into one

another. Same asCeltic knot. »

F

Fall-on One transparent color falling on another producing a third color. Also

called trapping. »

Field The area of a design that is not the border. »

Figurative A type of conversational design that uses human or animal figures, often of

historic, mythological, or poetic origin. Another term is "figural" design. »

Fleur-de-lis A stylized three-petal or four-petal lily. Originally a symbol of purity. Since

the Middle Ages has been used in heraldic ornaments. »

Floral A design using flowers and other nature elements such as seed pods, leaves, and

marine plants. »

Foreground The part of a design that appears to be closest to the viewer and in front of

other objects. Contrast to background. »

Foulard A small-scale pattern with basic block repeat, also called a set pattern or a tailored pattern. Originally, the term foulard referred to a soft, lightweight silk cloth. Classic

foulards are small-scale, regular-shaped geometrics, usually in set layouts. »

Four-way Layout A design in which motifs face all four directions, for example, up,

down, left, and right. »

Fret Pattern A plane geometric pattern or an interlocking motif in a band or border that consists of lines that meet at right angles. Also known as Greek key pattern. Often used as

an ornamental border design. »

Fretwork Ornamental openwork, such as created with a fretsaw or scroll saw. Often

used in furniture of metal decorations. Also a carved design in architecture. »

Frieze Pattern A pattern that repeats in one direction. There are exactly seven (7) mathematical classes of frieze patterns. Compare with two-dimensional (wallpaper)

patterns that have exactly seventeen (17) mathematical types. »

G

Geometric A motif, pattern, or design depicting abstract, nonrepresentational shapes

such as lines, circles, ellipses, triangles, rectangles, and polygons. »

Geometric Design A design based on a geometric pattern, often contrasted with

representational designs, such as floral or conversational. »

Gingham Check Fabrics woven in a block or check effect. An allover pattern of solid-

color squares made by overlapping stripes of the same width. »

Glen Check One of the district check patterns that typically includes hound's tooth (broken) check areas on intersections of alternating darker and lighter stripes. Also

called the Prince of Wales check. Commonly used in suiting fabrics. »

Graph Check A check pattern created by crossing lines on a solid ground that

resembles graph paper. »

Graphic A design created for the purpose of printing. Also refers to a design with a bold

look. »

Greek Key Pattern A plane geometric pattern or a border interlocking that consists of lines that meet at right angles. Also known as fret pattern. Often used as an

ornamental border design. »

Ground The part of a design that appears to be farthest from the viewer and behind the objects of interest. Can be a solid color, texture, random objects, or another pattern

(patterned ground). Also calledbackground. Opposite of foreground. »

Guilloche A decorative repeat of interlacing curved bands, sometimes forming circles. »

H

Hairline Stripe The thinnest stripe pattern possible, with stripe width of about the

diameter of human hair. »

Half-drop A layout in which the motif is repeated halfway down the side in the vertical

direction. The most frequently used repeat in textile design. »

Hand The style of an artist's design. Tight hand is very fine and detailed; loose hand is a

freer, morestylized way of drawing. »

Herati A stylized rosette, enclosed in a diamond, with a serrated "acanthus leaf" along each side, often used as a motif in the rug designs from the Caspian region. The "leaf" may actually represent a fish and then the pattern is also called the mahi (fish) design. The name comes from the city of Herat in Northwestern Afghanistan (formerly the Persian

empire). »

Herringbone Pattern A traditional woven or printed design of zigzags in a stripe layout, also calledchevron. Herringbone is also a type of twill weave that forms a "V" pattern (also

called a broken twill). »

Holes Uneven gaps between motifs in a design. »

Home Furnishing (Home Fashion) A field of design dealing with products for interior

design and decoration, such as upholstery, bedding, rugs, and carpets. »

Hound's Tooth A pattern of small broken or jagged checks created by four-pointed

stars. Same as dog's tooth. »

I

Interlocking Pattern An arrangement in which motifs are linked or otherwise fit together

so that one cannot be moved without affecting others. See also tessellations. »

Irregular Repeat A design based on the same principles as the half-drop and brick layout repeats, but in which consecutive units are not always moved by a fraction of

the repeat size. »

K

Kerchief A triangular scarf or a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck for protective or decorative purposes. A bandanna is a colorful

kerchief. »

L

Lane's Net A pattern of diamonds rotated by 45 and 90 degrees. Diamonds are filled with thin lines radiating from the opposing ends. Legendarily, created by accident in England in the first part of the 19th century and is believed to engender the class

of eccentrics. »

Latticework A design of interlacing, crisscrossing stripes forming a network. See

also trellis. »

Layout An arrangement of motifs in a pattern, such as diamond, drop, gradation,

grid, spot, and others. Also called repeat system. »

Liberty Style An allover, small-scale organic (usually floral and other plant-inspired) printed or dyed patterns, characterized by highly stylized, flowing curvilinear forms and

subtle, artistic tones of Art Nouveau, developed by Liberty & Co. of London. »

Line-up An unintentional straight line formed by motifs in a horizontal, vertical, or

diagonal direction. »

M

Madder A brown-red dye or pigment obtained from the roots of the plant Rubia tinctorum

or an analogous synthetic dye. Also known as Turkey red. A pattern in that palette. »

Madras A design with brightly colored stripes, plaid, uneven checks, or other design elements, usually on a plain-colored background. Characteristic for a fine, plain-woven shirting or dress cotton fabric originated in India. Bleeding madras used dyes that

resulted in bleeding and often fading of colors each time the fabric was laundered. »

Medallion A circular part of the design in the shape of a disk, oval, diamond, hexagon, or other rotational figure, typically with a mirror symmetry, often used in the center as a focal

point of an engineered design, or as an organic part of the motif. »

Millefleurs French for thousand flowers. A flower-studded pattern with naturalistically

depicted flowers, originally used on medieval pictorial tapestries. »

Mini Check A very small-scale check pattern of even-sized checks of the same color on a solid ground. Check sizes are somewhere between the pincheck and the Gingham

check. »

Moire Ripples, wavy lines, and similar effects produced by superposition of two or more

simpler patterns, for example, two sets of lines. »

Mongrel A plaid design in which the warp stripe layout and filling stripe layout are

different. »

Mosaic A pattern constructed from small colored pieces. »

Motif One or many distinctive and recurring elements, forms, shapes, or figures that

make up a design. »

N

Naturalistic A design with realistic depictions of organic or non-organic forms. »

Neats A neat is an allover, small-scaled, spaced pattern with floral or geometric motifs usually printed in one or two colors on a white or

colored ground. Inexpensive to produce and economical for dressmaking. »

Negative Space The area between motifs in a layout. »

Non-directional A pattern that looks the same from any direction. Same

as undirectional pattern. The opposite is a directional pattern. »

Nonobjective A design without recognizable natural objects, figures, or scenes. »

O

Object Print Another term for a conversational pattern. »

Ogee An onion-shaped motif. »

Ombre A shaded effect with gradual changes from dark to light in value, and open to

closed incoverage. »

One-directional A directional pattern that has a distinct top and bottom. Often used in floral, scenic, andfigurative designs. See also one-way layout. A typical example is the

one-directional allover pattern. »

One-way Layout A design in which all motifs are oriented the same way. See also one-

directional pattern. »

Optical Art An abstract artwork that creates the illusion of movement, vibrating

effects, moire (moiré) patterns, an exaggerated sense of depth, or other visual effects. »

Organic A design inspired by, based on, or composed of plants or a matter of animal

origin. Contrast togeometric. »

Overall A layout in which motifs are fairly close and evenly distributed as opposed to

stripes, borders,plaids, and engineered designs. Another term is allover. »

P

Packed A layout in which the motifs are placed close together. »

Paisley A stylized teardrop-shaped design that originally appeared on kashmir shawls

mass-produced in Paisley, Scotland. »

Palette The selected group of colors, shades, or patterns chosen to create a particular

work of art. »

Palmette A classical motif based on a stylized radiating, fan-shaped palm leaf commonly

found in Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian, and other ancient art. Also Anthemion. »

Patchwork A pattern simulating a pieced-together effect of different design elements. »

Pattern A design for decorating a surface composed of a number of elements (motifs)

arranged in a regular or formal manner. Often refers to "repeat pattern." »

Pattern Classifications Ways to group (classify) patterns according to their traits, such as:

o symmetry (for example, seventeen planar symmetry types)o layout type (diamond, drop, gradation, grid, spot, etc.)o layout arrangement (allover, foulard, etc.)o pattern directions (one-way, two-way, undirectional, etc.)o motif or subject matter

(florals, geometrics, paisleys, conversationals, abstract, plaid, stripe, etc.;florals can be further subdivided into roses, palmette (botanical or stylized), etc.; conversationalscan be subdivided into pictorials, figuratives, etc.; geometrics into line patterns, argyle, etc.)

o production technique used or imitated (watercolor, airbrush, hound's tooth weaving, herringbone,chevron, satin, picotage, eccentrics, batik, etc.)

o repeating on the infinite plane or designed to fit a specific shape (engineered)o purpose or application (apparel, home furnishing, camouflage, etc.)o scale (small-scale for contract design or large-scale for home furnishing)o target garment or accessory (rugs, bandanna, neckwear, etc.)o coloring (madders, khaki, etc.)o historic period, art movement, or place of origin (Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Liberty

style, Pop Art, Toile De Jouy, Herati, Tartan, ethnic (Indian, African tribal, Maya, etc.), contemporary, etc.)

These classifications are not mutually exclusive and patterns are frequently described as belonging to more than one class; for example,

an abstract undirectional allover madder camouflage pattern, which has the simple shift

symmetry and the half-drop layout. »

Patterned Ground A background (ground) that is in itself a pattern. Often consists of stripes, plaids, dots, zigzags, and other small geometric elements or textures, but can also

contain flowers and more complex motifs. »

Pencil Stripes A stripe pattern produced by lines that are about as thick as ones drawn by pencil. The distance between lines is often wider than the lines. Also called dress

stripe. »

Pheasant's Eye A weave forming diamond shapes that are somewhat bigger than bird's

eye weaves. »

Picotage An old style of creating stipple patterns in textile printing when highlights and shadows are produced with different sizes of brass pins driven into a wooden block. Also

called pinning. Imitated with a modern technology to create an old-fashion look. »

Pincheck A check pattern produced by intersecting pin-sized stripes that are one or two

yarns thick. »

Pinstripe A stripe pattern produced by (sometimes broken) very thin lines that are one or

two yarns thick. »

Plaid A design that consists of crossing bands or stripes of color, almost always at right

angles. »

Plain Weave The simplest weave in which each weft thread passes over and under each

warp thread. Compare with plain and satin weaves. »

Pop Art An art movement in the 1960s that featured graphic images of everyday figures

and objects. »

Portfolio A collection of designs. »

Powdered Ornament A pattern consisting of evenly spaced scatterings of

small motifs such as flower springs and stars. »

Primitive Art Art that is simple, naive, or unsophisticated in style, has the imagery of folk

art, and often places emphasis on form and expression and looks childlike. »

Q

Quatrefoil A stylized four-petal flower or a leaf with four leaflets used as a pattern motif or in an ornament, often having a heraldic or symbolic meaning. A similar

three-petal motif is a trefoil. »

Quilting The art of stitching two or more layers of fabric to create a thicker garment, often

having anallover pattern on the top layer. »

R

Random A design in which elements (for example flowers) are scattered randomly within

the unit of repeat. Same as tossed layout. »

Recall The repetitive use of the same or similar motifs within a croquis or sketch.

Variations in the motifs can include color, shape, weight, or scale. »

Regency Stripes Stripes of apparently the same width and alternating light and dark colors. Regency stripes are usually wider than candy stripes, but narrower than awning stripes. Commonly used in wallpaper, upholstery, and shirtings. Originated in India and became popular during the Regency era in the United Kingdom. Also called Bengal

stripes and tiger stripes. »

Regimental Stripe A stripe pattern with colors originating from British regiments. Most

often used in neckwear. Also called regimentals. »

Rendering Another term for finished croquis. »

Repeat The horizontal or vertical distance between identical elements of a repeat pattern. In the United States, the repeat is usually measured in inches, for example, a 27"

repeat. »

Repeat Pattern A design for decorating a surface composed of a number of elements (motifs) arranged in a regular or formal manner. Same as repeating pattern. Often simply

called "pattern." »

Repeating Pattern A design for decorating a surface composed of a number of

elements (motifs) arranged in a regular or formal manner. Same as repeat pattern. »

Roman Stripes Bright, multicolored contrasting vertical stripes. »

S

Sateen Repeat A non-directional pattern in which motifs are arranged on a rectangular grid in such a way that each "row" and "column" of the repeated unit contains only one instance of the motif. Additionally, the motifs may be rotated and/or reflected to produce a more uniform pattern. Same as spot repeat. The distribution of the motifs in the grid

resembles the satin weave. »

Satin Weave A weave in which each weft thread floats over as many as 12 warps and then under a single warp. The next weft passes over the same number of warps, but is

woven in by different warps. Compare with plain and twill weaves. »

Scale The relative size of a motif or layout. »

Scale Pattern Design created with overlapping arcs. Also called clamshells.

Encountered in many cultures through the millennia. »

Scroll A ribbon-like motif in the shape of a partly rolled scroll of paper. »

Serpentine Stripes A pattern arranged along wavy (sinusoidal) lines, reminiscent of

reptilian movements. »

Set Layout A design in which motifs are arranged as if on a hidden grid. »

Shades Colors to which black has been added. »

Shepherd's Check The simplest of the district check patterns consisting of small, even-sized checks of two colors. Resembles the Gingham check. Was also known as

"Spongebag." »

Side Repeat The horizontal repeat of a design or cloth. »

Sketch A fully painted design that is not in repeat; same as croquis. »

Spot Repeat A non-directional pattern in which motifs are arranged on a rectangular grid in such a way that each "row" and "column" of the repeated unit contains only one instance of the motif. Additionally, the motifs may be rotated and/or reflected to produce a more uniform pattern. Same as sateen repeat. The distribution of the motifs in the grid

resembles the satin weave. »

Sprig A tossed pattern of small shoots, twigs, or leaves of a plant, commonly on a

pastel background. »

Square Repeat A layout in which the repeating unit appears directly on a horizontal line to the left or right of the original design unit. Also called block repeat, straight-across

repeat, straight repeat, and "full-drop repeat". »

Stipple Dots placed closely together, creating a textured or shaded effect. See

also picotage. »

Straight-across Repeat A layout in which the repeating unit appears directly on a horizontal line to the left or right of the original design unit. Also called block

repeat, square repeat, and straight repeat. »

Straight Repeat A layout in which the repeating unit appears directly on a horizontal line to the left or right of the original design unit. Also called block repeat, square repeat,

and straight-across repeat. »

Striae A design made of stripes that change subtly in color and/or texture in one

direction. »

Stripe A pattern of bands or strips, often of the same width and color along the length. Some of the stripe patterns (in order of increasing width) are hairline

stripes, pinstripes, pencil stripes, candy stripes,bengals, and awnings. »

Stylized A design with modified or abstracted elements that give the design a

more decorative look. »

Surface Pattern A repeat pattern on a two-dimensional plane. Same as wallpaper pattern. There are exactly seventeen (17) types of surface patterns. See wallpaper groups. Similarly, there are seven (7)frieze patterns that correspond to seven types of

linear patterns. »

Swatch A small piece of cloth used as a sample. In computer programs, such as Adobe

Illustrator, a pattern swatch is a tileable, rectangular unit of a repeat pattern.  »

T

Tapestry A woven textile art with hidden warp (vertical) threads and visible colored weft (horizontal) threads usually depicting a floral design, geometric pattern, or historic or other

pictorial motif. Commonly used for wall hangings, curtains, and upholstery. »

Tartan Woven plaids that consist of stripes of different widths and colors that were originally patterned to designate a distinctive Scottish clan. Now any plaids with a similar

look. »

Tattersall A relatively small-scale check pattern (smaller than windowpane) produced by

regularly spaced, evenly colored thin lines on a usually light ground. »

Tessellations A repeat pattern composed of interlocking shapes that can be extended

infinitely. »

Textile Design The art and science of designing for fabrics. Typically (but not always) involves the creation of repeat patterns. Specifications differ drastically depending on application (contract, apparel,home furnishings, etc.), technology (printed, woven, etc.),

and other considerations. Commonly done with software. »

Theme A subject matter for a design or collection. »

Toile De Jouy A decorating pattern on a scenic, pastoral, or floral theme usually printed in one color on a light or white ground. Originated in 18th century France. Often

abbreviated to "toile." »

Tossed A design in which elements (for example flowers) are scattered randomly within

the unit of repeat. Also called random layout. »

Tracery The ornamental framework of interlacing stone, wood, or cast iron ribs

supporting (or implying the support of) glass in a Gothic window. »

Transitional A naturalistic design that is highly stylized, but still showing some

recognizable elements. »

Trapping One semi-transparent color falling on another to produce a third color. Also

called fall-on. »

Trefoil A stylized three-petal flower or a leaf with three leaflets used as a pattern motif or in an ornament, often having a heraldic or symbolic meaning. A similar four-petal motif is

a quatrefoil. »

Trellis A pattern featuring a supporting structure of interwoven pieces of wood or metal

(latticework) sometimes adorned with climbing vines or flowers. »

Turnover A design in which the motif is flipped horizontally or vertically. »

Twill Weave A weave in which each weft thread passes over two (or more) warps and then under the same number of warps to produce diagonal ridges. Compare

with plain and satin weaves. »

Two-directional Pattern A directional pattern that has features in two directions, typically at 90° or 180°. A design that is reversible in the top and bottom directions is also

called a two-way design. »

Two-way Layout A design in which half the motifs face an opposite direction, for

example, up and down. See also two-directional design. »

U

Unbalanced Stripes Unbalanced stripes do not have a "center" and are asymmetrical

stripes. »

Undirectional A design that looks the same from any direction. Same as non-directional

design. The opposite is a directional pattern. »

V

Vermicular A pattern of irregular twisted lines (derived from the Latin "worm"). Also called vermiculate and vermiculated (for example vermiculated ground), seaweed, scribble, maze, and network pattern. Can be formed by dots (see stippling

and picotage). »

W

Wallpaper Groups A mathematical concept that uses symmetry to classify surface repeat patterns(repetitive designs on a two-dimensional plane). There are exactly seventeen (17) wallpaper groups that correspond to seventeen different types of surface patterns. Similarly, there are seven (7) frieze groups that correspond to seven types of

linear (frieze) patterns. »

Wallpaper Pattern A repeat pattern on a two-dimensional plane. Same as surface pattern. There are exactly seventeen (17) types of wallpaper patterns. See wallpaper groups. Similarly, there are seven (7)frieze patterns that correspond to seven types of

linear patterns. »

Watercolor Imitating effects produced by painting with watercolors (aquarelles). Often

creates patterns with light, soft, and transparent gradations. »

Weaving A method of making fabrics by interlacing two sets of yarns (threads), in which one set (warp) runs along the length of fabric and the other (weft) runs from side to side.

The three basic weaves areplain, twill, and satin. »

Windowpane Check A widely spaced check pattern resembling panes in a window.

Commonly used on suits, shirtings, and accessories. »

Wreath A ring-shaped intertwined garland of flowers or leaves, often with ribbons and/or

other decorations. »

Z

Zalij The intricate geometric mosaic tilework created from sets of characteristic shapes, typically cut from enameled terracotta squares. Used as decorations outside and inside

buildings. Another spelling iszillij. »

Zillij The intricate geometric mosaic tilework created from sets of characteristic shapes, typically cut from enameled terracotta squares. Used as decorations outside and inside

buildings. Another spelling iszalij. »