What Kind of Weave Is Gingham?
Gingham is a type of fabric created by a plain weave pattern. The pattern is normally a check or stripe design. Gingham fabric is made from cotton or cotton-blend dyed yarns. White and blue is a popular color combination for gingham; however, there are endless color combinations available in the trendy print. In fashion, gingham can be found on everything from hats and scarves to shoes and clothing for men, women and children. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The word "gingham" comes from the Italian word "ging gang," which means striped fabric. First imported in the 1700s by the Dutch, gingham originally looked more like stripes than checks. In the 1800s, the fabric was no longer imported. The Dutch began to manufacture gingham in Manchester, England, and the woven patterns of checks became popular. The lightweight fabric was used early on primarily for linens and household items.
Identification
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The fabric is easy to recognize and versatile in uses across the design industries. Gingham is very similar to plaid and is part of the plain weave family of fabrics. The stripe patterns are equal in size in two different colors, either in a white and color-dyed yarn or two color-dyed yarns going in two directions on the weave. Gingham creates a new color when the two colors meet on the fabric, creating a check look. Checked gingham is made of two colors, and plaid gingham uses several different colors. Tissue and zephyr ginghams are sheer and use a higher thread count and finer yarns.
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Characteristics
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Gingham is identified by the weight of the fabric and the pattern weaving. Gingham can be produced using cotton, synthetic or man-made fibers. The dyed yarn or printed fabric is woven in stripe, check or plain solid-block patterns. The design of gingham fabric must match in order for it to be classified as gingham. Gingham fabric can shrink easily if the fabric quality is poor or unless the garment has been pre-shrunk. The fabric is soft and has a dull luster surface.
Uses
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Gingham is used in the clothing design industry and in the making of household goods and furniture. Gingham is most often used for designing dresses and blouses for women and shirts for women, men and children. The fabric is also used to design tablecloths, aprons, handkerchiefs, bedspreads, pajamas and curtains, as well as upholstery for couches, chairs and home décor items. Gingham can wrinkle easily unless it is made to be wrinkle-resistant.
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